Thomas County Middle School students have recently had the opportunity to participate in STREAM-based makerspaces in the Media Center during library rotations.  Makerspaces promote exploration and creativity amongst students through tinkering, experimenting, and collaboration.  STREAM stations integrate learning through exploration and teach students to think and problem-solve like inventors, scientists, and mathematicians.  STREAM stands for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math.  

Students have worked collaboratively to create various objects using K'Nex, Legos, and STEM Space sets.  Designs were available if students wanted to build one of the models from a book, or they could choose to be creative and invent their own.  Markers, crayons, and color pencils were available at another station for students to create and color bookmarks with various designs.  Another station was set up to allow students to explore the inner workings of a computer.  The Technology Specialist from our school, Aaron Stolarik, explained to students the different parts of the computer and the function of each.  The parts were taken out of the computer and students were given the opportunity to work together to "fix" the computer and put all of the parts back into the working location.  At a similar station, students used small screwdriver sets to repair several broken calculators.  Students used the parts to attempt repairs on other calculators.  "These calculators were broken and were going into the trash, so why not allow students the opportunity to explore and repair them.  I believe that when given these opportunities, students are inspired to become engineers and scientists through tinkering and exploration," stated Media Specialist Kathie Craven.  

Other stations that students have had the opportunity to explore were a Chess station, complete with a simple instruction book on how to play, and a puzzle station where students worked collaboratively to put together a 200-piece puzzle.  TCMS hopes to continue in the maker movement, allowing students these hands-on opportunities for exploration. 

Pictured below is Fabian Hammonds, Connor Singletary, Joe Clark, and Alton Jones playing chess.

Lilly Stone, Jazzy Hollis, and Maya Rodrigues are working together to put together a puzzle portraying Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Ayden Webb, Trace Morales, and Mauricio Becerra-Parra constructed a roller coaster track and have set their marble in motion to see if it can make the revolution.

Callie Merritt and Maddie Mitchell have constructed a tower out of the Space Building Set.