Teachers Pay Teachers Back to School SALE!

Just over 8 hours left in the Teachers Pay Teachers BACK TO SCHOOL SALE extravaganza! Don't forget to type in the Promo Code: BTS14 when checking out. We have so much on sale in our store...and it's up to 28% off! We also are having fun getting some great products from other stores with steep discounts. It won't last long...better get there while you can!

Book Talk Tuesday | Invent To Learn Book Review

Book Title: Invent to Learn - Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom (Click to go to Amazon)
Authors: Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary Stager, Ph.D.

This is a wonderful book that addresses the basic needs for anyone wishing to establish a Maker Space in their classroom or school. The authors give a wide variety of projects, materials, media, and resources for establishing your own Maker Space. The authors tend to focus on hands-on materials and projects. A discussion is also put forth on the value of making and the educational theory behind it. Much discussion focuses on robotics and electronics, but also, there is a balance struck in making with low cost materials. Emphasis is also placed on STEM as well as the arts in making. After reading this book, I've realized that Making does not need to be an expensive process and that it can encompass many different things from cooking to electronics to woodworking and even growing plants. I'd recommend this book for anyone wishing to inject more creativity and inventiveness into their classroom or school.

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Make Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloons in your Maker Space!

Thanks to Scholaris Gifted Academy for featuring us in their newsletter! Here is an excerpt on our tissue paper hot air balloons. We love this hands on project that requires so few (and inexpensive) materials. It's a perfect project for a Maker Space in your classroom.

Launching our tissue paper hot air balloons at Scholaris Gifted Academy!
That's me next to the torch that heats the air.

"During The Science of Gases students experimented with gases using, among other items, chemicals, liquid nitrogen, ping pong balls, and balloons. It was wonderful to see students discover the excitement of learning through hands on activities. In Imagine, Construct, and FLY!students designed, built, and flew hot air balloons using tissue paper and propane gas. They also constructed and launched bottle rockets and air pressure rockets. Distance was measured so that our scientists could go back to the work room and make any necessary changes to their rocket to increase speed and distance. It was amazing to see the students engage in these projects with overwhelming enthusiasm and creativity."

Maker Faire Detroit 2014 | Part 3

I had a great experience making a paper speaker at the MT.Elliot Maker Space booth. The middle school girls working at the booth taught a mini-class on how to make a mini-speaker using: a magnet, paper, scotch tape, and a wire coil. We hooked up the coil to a cell phone and amplifier and hear sounds coming through the speaker!

MT.Elliot is a Maker Space in Detroit that challenges children to take apart a donated bicycle. If the child is able to reassemble the bike, it then belongs to him and he can take it home!

Teachers Pay Teachers - Back to School SALE!!!

Our Brain Brigade TPT Store is ON SALE!!! We are cutting prices upto 28%! An awesome way to stock up on your favorite products. Don't miss out on this rare TPT opportunity! Simply add the promo code: BTS14 when you are checking out!

While at my store, don't forget to FOLLOW ME! You'll get notice of upcoming sales and discounts and find out when we have new resources for you.

Check out some of these other great resources! Daughters and Kindergarten has a great link up of products on sale!

And even some free resources available at Magischool123!

Maker Faire Detroit 2014 | Part 2

One area of interest to me is model rocketry. Every year my kids make model rockets and we launch them at school. This model rocket group from the Detroit area had a very nice display of large diameter rockets that I may try to incorporate into my middle school science classroom this year.

Making rockets can be either from a specific set of directions or when a child has the basic idea of how to make a rocket, they can create their own using paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, or Pringles containers. I've had some very nice homemade rockets made by students who created their own designs.