Your Quick Start Guide to the Maker Movement
Have you heard of the Maker Movement? Makerspaces have grown in popularity in schools and it’s not just because they’re fun and incorporate technology. The benefits that is offers students are multifaceted: hands-on learning, self-directed learning, collaboration, creative freedom, exposure to STE(A)M, and many others. Chances are that you’ve heard the term makerspaces, but do you know how to start one in your school or classroom? We’re here to help get your creativity juices flowing with the help of our great partners!
Maker Maven
If you are just getting started and need an all-inclusive solution for your makerspace, Maker Maven kits are the perfect solution for you. The team behind Maker Maven carefully curates their kits to include a combination of the latest and greatest maker tools available with plenty of activities to keep your students busy year around. Kits start at just $299 for their Innovator Kit up to $1,499 for the Ultimate Maker Kit Plus. Click here to choose a kit for you!
littleBits
Maybe you aren’t ready to invest in a range of makerspace products, but are looking to start with a little hands on STEM that unleashes your students creativity. littleBits is the solution for you. littleBits are colorful, electronic building blocks (think legos) that snap together to bring students’ creativity to life in the form of little robots. Starting at just $95, their safe, easy-to-use kits come fully equipped with bits, accessories and teacher guides to make it simple to integrate into your classroom from students 8 and up. Click here to find the littleBits option that is best for you!
BirdBrain
What about an option that exposes your students to computer science and robotics? Our partner, BirdBrain, can help you with that. Their university research-based, creative products are designed to support engineering, computer science, and project-based learning. You can decide between the Finch, a plug-and-play robot that can be programmed through an easy, drag and drop interface, or the Hummingbird Robotics Kit, a collection of programmable electronic pieces that allow for a more imagination-forward approach to create their robot. Using over a dozen programming languages from Scratch all the way up to Java, BirdBrain’s product allow you to introduce to students of any level of programming experience. Click here to try a Hummingbird Robotics Kit, or Finch Robot today!
Dremel
If you are ready for a more advanced makerspace, a 3D printer is a must!. Dremel’s affordable Idea Builder 3D printers are built for the rigors of the classroom and are easy to use out of the box. The Dremel Idea Builder breaks down the limits of the students’ imagination and allows for endless possibilities. Each printer includes curriculum-based lesson plans, which are aligned to Common Core and NGSS standards so you can reinforce important topics through a creative, hands-on approach. Click here to get your Dremel Idea Builder 3D printer today!
HUE
Once your students have completed their projects, they need a way to share their work and demonstate the full understanding of the concepts as the final component to the learning process. That’s where HUE steps in. HUE’s Animation Studio complete with the HUE HD Pro Document Camera is the perfect way to bring student work to life so that it can be easily shared with classmates, family, and community members. A simple plug-and-play solution, the HUE Animation software makes it easy to introduce students to animation and allows students from kindergarten and up to showcase their understanding and learning, all while they are engaged in a fun experience. Click here to get your HUE Animation Studio subscription today!
If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.
