PlacenTinkers Makerspace

Two young children, a boy and a girl, are sitting at a table in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting. The background shows shelves filled with various supplies and materials, suggesting an organized and well-equipped learning environment.
Two young girls are sitting at a table in a colorful and vibrant classroom environment, surrounded by various educational materials and decorations.
A group of young girls, some wearing colorful tie-dye shirts, are gathered in a classroom setting with various educational materials and decorations visible in the background.
Three young children, wearing colorful aprons, are engaged in a hands-on activity at a table in a brightly decorated room.
A group of young students, some wearing colorful clothing, are gathered around a table in a classroom setting, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or discussion.
A group of young children are gathered around a table, engaged in an arts and crafts activity in a colorful and vibrant classroom setting.
A group of children sitting on colorful cushions in a classroom, with a teacher standing in front of them and using a large interactive display.
A group of children sitting on colorful cushions in a classroom, watching a presentation on a large screen at the front.
A cluttered and colorful display of various handmade robot and museum-themed decorations and crafts, including signs, figurines, and other whimsical objects.

April 2025

Designing Kindness, One Robot at a Time

In our makerspace, we were inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires to create robots that encourage kindness in the world.  We used the Design Thinking process, beginning with empathy, to imagine how our robots could help others through kindness, support, and connection. Using simple materials like cardboard, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, and lots of imagination, we brought our robot ideas to life. Each one was designed with a purpose—to brighten someone’s day, offer support, or inspire kind actions. When we were finished, we proudly displayed our creations in our Robot Museum for the whole school to see and celebrate!

PlacenTinkers are Thinkers!

About PlacenTinkers

In our PlacenTinker Makerspace, we are committed to fostering literacy in all its forms. Each session begins with a carefully chosen book that connects to the month’s theme or project, creating a bridge between storytelling and hands-on exploration.

Beyond traditional literacy—reading, writing, and research—our makerspace nurtures digital, coding, and invention literacies. By exploring technology, coding, and hands-on engineering, our young learners develop problem-solving skills and creativity, building a strong foundation for the future.

Here's where we've been!
A young boy in a white lab coat stands in front of a large interactive display screen, gesturing towards the colorful digital artwork on the screen.

By working together and collaborating, PlacenTinkers discovered that each one of us has valuable ideas. After all teams finished creating a unique tide pool prototype, we shared them with the class by projecting them onto our new Promethean Panel. Students donned lab coats (because of course, Marine Biologists are scientists) and each group presented their prototype and described the features that help them adapt to their Tide Pool Habitat.

A group of young children are gathered around a green play mat, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or game.
Two young boys, one wearing a red shirt and the other a blue camouflage jacket, are intently examining the contents of a laptop or electronic device on a table in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting.
A group of students are gathered around a table, intently working on various electronic components and devices.
A group of young children are seated on a colorful, patterned floor mat, each engaged with their own tablet or electronic device in an educational setting with bookshelves and other learning materials visible in the background.
A group of young children sitting on the floor, with various shapes and symbols laid out in front of them, suggesting an educational or learning activity.
A colorful and whimsical nest-like structure made of various craft materials, including feathers, pipe cleaners, and pom-poms, sits on a table or surface, surrounded by art supplies and materials.
The image shows a classroom setting with several students engaged in various activities, such as reading and playing with toys, while the background features a wall with the word %22Emily%22 displayed.
A group of young children, wearing colorful aprons, are gathered around a table, engaged in an activity that appears to be arts and crafts, with various materials and supplies visible in the background.
Three young children are engaged in a craft activity, working on a table in a classroom setting with various art supplies and storage containers visible in the background.
The image depicts a colorful painting on a canvas, with various vibrant hues and shapes creating a visually striking composition. In the foreground, hands can be seen holding paint bottles, suggesting an ongoing artistic process.
Two young boys, wearing green and purple aprons, are enthusiastically working on a craft project together at a table in what appears to be a classroom or workshop setting, with various items and decorations visible in the background.
A classroom setting with a large display screen showing cartoon characters, and a group of young students sitting on colorful cushions, engaged in what appears to be an educational activity led by an adult.
A group of young children sitting on the floor of a classroom, engaged in a collaborative activity with various toys and learning materials scattered around them.
A group of children, both boys and girls, are gathered around a table playing with colorful building blocks in a classroom setting with various educational materials and decorations visible in the background.
A group of young boys wearing sports jerseys, gathered together in what appears to be a classroom or similar indoor setting, with shelves and other classroom items visible in the background.
A group of young children are engaged in a hands-on learning activity, working together at a table and using various colorful educational materials.
A young person is intently focused on a tablet device displaying a colorful, maze-like game interface on the screen.
A classroom setting with students engaged in various activities, surrounded by colorful educational materials and displays on the walls.
Three young girls are sitting at a table in a classroom setting, surrounded by shelves filled with various supplies and storage containers.
A group of young children are gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or project, with various supplies and storage containers visible in the background.
Two young girls, one wearing a blue tie-dye shirt and the other wearing a pink patterned shirt, are sitting at a table and working on a craft project together in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting, with various supplies and equipment visible in the background.
Three young girls are sitting at a table, engaged in an activity, with a colorful Lego wall in the background.
A group of children, some wearing colorful shirts, are gathered around a table in a classroom setting, engaged in an activity or discussion.
A group of young children, likely students, are gathered around a table, engaged in an arts and crafts activity. The background suggests a classroom or educational setting.
A group of young students, both boys and girls, are gathered around a table, engaged in a hands-on learning activity involving various craft materials.
The image depicts a young boy in a striped shirt and a penguin in a small boat, with a starry night sky in the background. The title %22Lost and Found%22 is prominently displayed.

Welcome to the world of PlacenTinkers! Our makerspace is a dynamic hub for exploration, design, creativity, and collaboration, all guided by the principles of Design Thinking. We take pride in our ever-evolving space, where tinkering and innovation come to life.

PlacenTinkers are Thinkers!

Design thinking loop

Makerspaces are dynamic learning environments where students collaborate, explore, and create using a variety of tools, materials, and technologies.

Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and iteration. It fosters a growth mindset, encouraging students to view mistakes as valuable learning opportunities.

When combined, Makerspaces and Design Thinking empower students to think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate meaningfully. Through hands-on, experiential learning, students develop essential skills that prepare them for success in school, careers, and beyond.

PlacenTinkers in the news!  Please be sure to check out the article in School Library Journal which features our PlacenTinker Makerspace!

School Library Journal Article

 

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WINNIE CAREY M.Ed.
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION SPECIALIST
Holliston Public Schools
careyw@holliston.k12.ma.us