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In today’s culture, information is readily accessible on laptops or digital devices. It’s time for library media centers to make a change from the information age to the imagination age.
Re-imagining the Space
At Mount Paran Christian School, we have created exciting new “Makerspace” stations in the Myrick Media Center where lower school students explore various ways to express themselves and their ideas. Children have the freedom to do this individually or collaborate in groups of various sizes. Makerspace is a place where students have an opportunity to explore their own interests; learn to use tools and materials, both physical and virtual; and develop creative projects.
We encourage all of our students, no matter what their interests or skill level might be, to begin to recognize links between the enjoyment they experience while they are “making” and possible future careers in STEAM. Although Makerspace may seem to be just a place where students can play, it is important to see that this type of playing builds social-emotional competence in many domains: language skills, social skills, empathy, imagination, self-control, persistence, and higher-order thinking.
Makers in the Making
Two of our most popular stations that appeal to kindergarten through fifth grade and beyond are Osmo and Q-Ba-Maze. The philosphy is built on the belief that children learn best when engaged in creative play. Their educational game systems nurture social intelligence and creative thinking by unlocking the iPad to the infinite possibilities of physical play. Rather than kids staring at a tablet, this ground-breaking technology system bridges the physical and digital worlds by taking gameplay beyond the screen. Various educational games include Masterpiece, Newton, Tangrams, Numbers, Letters, and Coding, and they foster the exploration of art, science, and math. It’s designed for anyone age six years old and up and is a favorite among even our youngest students.
The Q-Ba-Maze marble maze puts the laws of motion to the test. The unique design of the cubes allow for a limitless range of configuration options and the stunt sets let students add rolling, bouncing and spinning action to the steel marbles. Children are drawn to these colorful revolutionary cubes in which they can create endless paths and possibilities while bolstering precise engineering skills. The students collaborate beautifully at this station to produce unique marble mazes — no two are ever the same!
4 C's of 21st-Century Learning
Makerspace provides a powerful set of opportunities for students of any skill level to jump-start their STEAM education. Schools like MPCS are beginning to see the value of incorporating Makerspace into students’ traditional, challenging curriculum. We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this innovative movement and integrate it into our media center environment. With our various stations, we are supporting and encouraging the four C’s of twenty-first century learning: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking. We believe that the maker movement will offer new opportunities to help propel the next generation into a better and brighter future and equip them to skillfully serve in their chosen careers.
Kathy Bridges serves as the Media Center Specialist at Mount Paran Christian School.
MPCS focuses on innovative ways to teach our students. Click here to learn how academic excellence is achieved in a Christ-centered environment.
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WingTips
Welcome to WingTips, a Mount Paran Christian School Blog. The MPCS Blog features many independent school contributors and thought-leaders.
Learn More About MPCS
Recommended Series
PRIVATE SCHOOL PRIMER:
- How School Choice Programs Increase Educational Opportunities for Families
- 5 Tips for Making the Middle to High School Transition
- What Families Should Expect
- 2 Most Important This to Consider When Choosing a Preschool
- 4 Benefits of Choosing a K-12 School for Life
- 3 Reasons Why I Believe in Christian Schools
- 7 Tips for Affording a Private School Education
- 4 Reasons We Chose Mount Paran Christian School
- How to Choose the Best Private School for Your Family
PARENTEd. TALKS:
- Helping Students Boost Their Brain Capacity for Success
- Teaching Children Fiscal Responsibility
- Tips for Parents to Help Teens Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
- Excelling in the Midst of Adversity
- 3 Tips for Navigating the Hidden Dangers of Social Media
- The Blessing of a B Minus
- Real Talk for Moms
COLLEGE SERIES:
- Finding the Right Fit - An Individualized Approach to College Counseling
- ParentEd.: Here’s What You Need to Know About College Admissions
- To Save or Not to Save: 529 Plans are the Question
FROM THE TEACHER’S DESK:
- The Importance of Play
- What Families Should Expect
- Play is Learning Through the Arts
- 4 Tips to Capture the Minds of Your Students
CHRISTIAN LIFE:
- What is a Covenant School?
- Seeing Through a New Lens: A Biblical Worldview
- Faith and Intellect as One
- Philosophy of Belonging: 4 Tips for Fostering a Diverse Culture
- Innovation in Education: Teaching Cultural Awareness
- A Call to Brotherhood: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Wisdom for Today
- CommUNITY: How Do We Love One Another?
- Campaign for CommUNITY
- How to Raise Empathetic Children in Today’s Culture
- Imageo Dei: Why Diversity Matters
Providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, Mount Paran Christian School unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth.
