As I prepare to teach my first grade students, I made sure to carve out time to prepare a cardboard technique example wall for them to refer to. Last year I made fast, scrappy examples and I’m so excited to have something that can live in the makerspace as a reference for everyone.
Cardboard is such an incredible materials to use for a number of reason. Firstly, it’s free thanks to all the deliveries happening at my school. Secondly, it’s so malleable. These examples of techniques truly highlight all the possibilities. I also love that tape isn’t always needed when connecting cardboard pieces together. I find students assume the more tape they use the better. In my focus on sustainability I’m trying to use as little tape as possible on projects and showing these techniques will hopefully empower students to realize tape doesn’t solve everything.
Experimenting with these types of connections will be the second class focus with the first graders. I will have them simply experiment with connecting cardboard together using several techniques to see what they can create. Our first class together will be a scavenger hunt of looking for specific materials to orient to them to the makerspace. These first graders will have never taken class with me before I want to make sure they understand the room and where to find certain types of materials.
Maker Love Story 