PURPOSEFUL
PLAY
is the way.
Makerspace is an interactive community-oriented space at the Saint Louis Science Center where you can create and learn skills using a variety of tools and materials. The free gallery is located on the Second Floor and is recommended for kids 7 and up.
Trent Smith, Manager of Makerspace, has been engaging young “makers” since 2016, and the most common question that he gets asked is: “What does the Makerspace do?”
Whether developing Rube Goldberg machines with schools or teaching kids how 3D printing works, the Makerspace gallery is an area for kids to explore ideas, apply a process and come up with a solution. More specifically, “we teach kids to think outside of the box through various workshops like Coding, Stop Motion Animation and even building with cardboard,” Trent says.
This answer is generally met with excitement. “So, you get paid to play all day?” In essence, yes. And to kids (and some adults) play is very important work.
Mark Twain said, “Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.” In the Makerspace, it is our responsibility to provide children with the conditions of purposeful play. If we can guide kids to explore and discover though play, we help prime them to be creative, social, problem-solving adults. These skills can even provide a foundation important for unlocking opportunities in today’s 21st century workforce.
What is interesting to note about these kids is some will be working in careers that do not even exist yet. The concept of Makerspace is to harness children’s innate desire to be creative and to explore; to guide their open-ended thinking, encourage them to try new things, teach them to accept failure, adjust and move forward; and most importantly, to show how to interact with peers while doing so.
Today, we first start with having fun and exposing children to the confidence that comes from doing something successfully for the first time. It could be coding, stop motion animation…or even building something out of cardboard.
Or simply put, play.
Makerspace Classes
Laser Engraved Holiday Decorations
December–January 10 | 2–4pm
December is Laser Engraved Holiday Ornaments.
While supplies last.
Limit 3 per family/group.
Intro to Carpentry
January 14–February | 2–4pm
Join us in our first ever woodworking program. Guests will use reclaimed wood and traditional tools to learn about an age-old practice.
Recommended for guests age 7 and up.
For more information,visit slsc.org/makerspace
DID YOU KNOW?
AN ESTIMATED 135 MILLION U.S. ADULTS ARE “MAKERS”
26 PERCENT OF U.S. CITIES HAVE MAKERSPACES
ESTIMATED 2,000 MAKERSPACES AROUND THE WORLD*
*Source: 2016 National League of Cities report titled “How Cities Can Grow the Maker Movement”