1st Maker Space

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🏀 March Madness Meets Making! Bring the excitement of March Madness into your classroom with this hands-on Basketball Hoop Design Challenge! Students will design and build their own basketball goal while exploring engineering, problem-solving, and iteration. It’s the perfect way to combine STEM, creativity, and a little friendly competition this season. Check out the lesson: https://lnkd.in/g5qDxnDc #MarchMadness #Makerspace #STEM #HandsOnLearning #1stMakerSpace

At Eggers Middle School in Hammond, Indiana, innovation is part of everyday learning. Their makerspace has grown into a cross-curricular hub where students explore engineering challenges, coding, robotics, and real-world design projects. Through hands-on experiences, students build confidence, collaborate with peers, and learn that iteration and perseverance are part of the design process. The space connects learning across subjects while helping students explore future career pathways and develop skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Read more about the impact of the Eggers makerspace: https://lnkd.in/ge5q8iQ8 #Makerspace #STEMEducation #HandsOnLearning #Innovation #1stMakerSpace

For school leaders looking to expand hands-on learning and connect STEM with real-world applications, the TowerGarden FLEX offers a powerful solution. This vertical, soil-free growing system transforms classrooms and makerspaces into living laboratories where students explore plant science, sustainability, nutrition, and environmental systems. The TowerGarden FLEX supports cross-curricular learning across science, health, engineering, and environmental studies while requiring minimal space and maintenance. It provides a visible, engaging way for schools to promote inquiry-based learning, sustainability initiatives, and student engagement. By incorporating a TowerGarden FLEX, schools can create meaningful learning experiences that connect STEM concepts to real-world impact while encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gjYA8CMJ #STEMEducation #SchoolLeadership #HandsOnLearning #Sustainability #1stMakerSpace

We’re proud to celebrate the recent makerspace installation at Wes-Del Elementary School in @Wes-DelCommunitySchools. This new 1st Maker Space innovation lab will help ensure every student has access to engaging, hands-on lessons that strengthen creativity, problem solving, and real-world thinking. Wes-Del Elementary already stands out for its strong commitment to STEM. Beginning in kindergarten students explore coding, robotics, and 3D printing to build confidence and foundational engineering and computer science skills year after year. Adding a 1st Maker Space innovation lab will further enhance these efforts by creating a dynamic environment where students can design, build, and collaborate while applying what they learn in meaningful ways. We are also excited to celebrate that Wes-Del Elementary recently earned International STEM Accreditation through U.S. STEM Schools in partnership with STEM.org | Educational Research. This recognition highlights the school’s dedication to preparing students with the skills and mindset needed for future success. Congratulations to the entire Wes-Del Elementary team for continuing to lead the way in innovative, student-centered learning.

We’re excited to welcome Andrew B. Raupp as a guest blogger on the 1st Maker Space blog. Raupp is the founder of STEM.org Educational Research and a recognized leader in STEM education innovation whose work has been featured in Forbes and Newsweek. In his latest article, “The Handwriting Effect and the Fight for Cognitive Sovereignty in STEM Education,” Andrew explores how handwriting, attention, and cognitive endurance are connected to deep learning in STEM disciplines. He argues that slowing down thinking through writing and reflection helps students build the reasoning and persistence needed for complex problem solving. Read the full guest blog and join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/giU77H5b #STEMEducation #Makerspace #EducationInnovation #HandsOnLearning #1stMakerSpace

Thank you Andrew B. Raupp for sharing your expertise and knowledge with our maker community!

Dale Dougherty, founder of @Make:Magazine and @MakerFaire and a leader of the modern Maker Movement, recently shared a powerful message with 1st Maker Space. In Investing in the Future of Learning, he challenges us to rethink our priorities. While billions are flowing into artificial intelligence, education and youth development remain underfunded. Dougherty reminds us that true progress is not about replacing human intelligence with machines. It is about strengthening it through relationships, community, play, and hands-on learning in spaces like makerspaces. If we want a brighter future, we must invest in young minds as boldly as we invest in technology. Read the full blog on our website: https://lnkd.in/ecxwx6yd #MakerMovement #HandsOnLearning #FutureOfEducation #MadeToMake

Welcome Dr. Chad LeDune to the 1st Maker Space team! With over 20 years in education, Chad brings deep expertise in STEM education, instructional design, and innovative learning environments to his role at 1st Maker Space. His career spans classroom teaching, district leadership, higher education accreditation, and national STEM certification coaching. With degrees in elementary education, STEM Leadership, STEM Education, and Instructional Technology, he is committed to supporting partners in creating dynamic, future-ready learning spaces that empower students and build sustainable pathways from school to workforce. We are excited to have Chad’s leadership and vision guiding our work as we continue to expand innovative, hands-on learning opportunities for schools and communities. Please join us in welcoming Dr. LeDune to the 1st Maker Space team.

At 1st Maker Space, we are unwavering in our commitment to championing hands-on learning and ensuring every student in Indiana has access to meaningful, real-world educational experiences