History, Part 4: Putting the Maker into Our [Library] Space!

Steve Gagnon, DLS, and Ashley Healey, LMS, are the dynamic duo of Stratham Memorial School’s newly rolled out “Learning Commons Program.” With a combined 45 years in education, they have seen the evolution of Makerspace culture and have dabbled with a wide variety of materials and structures both within the classroom setting, within a block of a unified arts schedule, and within a blended, collaborative, learning format as they’re now experiencing. They’re excited to share their journey with you.

Read Part 1  Read Part 2  Read Part 3

So, what does it really mean to put the “Makerspace” into the library and curriculum space?

STEVE: From the start, I saw a natural overlap between what was happening in the Makerspace and the library. For years, though, the two programs ran separately. The Makerspace moved from a former computer lab to a modular building, and later to an upstairs classroom. Access was limited to related arts blocks, and physical space was a challenge – there was never quite enough room for materials, tools, and workspace.

On the bright side, when students were in the space, they had access to an amazing range of tools and materials – some familiar, and some that needed hands-on introduction and guidance.

ASHLEY: As a former classroom teacher, this would’ve been my dream – endless materials and a partner to help guide students in how to use them? Hello, integration opportunities! As a teacher librarian, it became my mission to make materials accessible and to teach students how to use them early and independently.

We began by carving out physical space in the library. After a much-needed weed, we made room for labeled bins filled with low-tech building materials: LEGO® bricks, K’NEX®, and KEVA planks. A rotating shelf let us pair building books with actual building materials – like LEGO – which led to a big uptick in those books being checked out. Win-win!

From the start, we made it a priority to explicitly teach students not only how to use the materials, but also how to take them out and put them away properly. After some initial work around book care and library basics, our kindergarteners jump right into their first major unit of the year: Building!

STEVE: Everything changed when our programs merged into the Learning Commons. I returned to the former computer lab, now next to the library, but this time, not everything had to live in the Makerspace. Materials could move into the larger library area, and physical workspaces could expand into shared zones.

I’ll never forget watching our first kindergartners enter the Learning Commons and finally have the space they needed to really build.

A big part of the Makerspace movement is choice – projects driven by passion. So early on, we asked ourselves: How do we bring this concept to kindergarten? We landed on a model where students explored one building material per week (with a strong focus on care and cleanup). After this guided exploration, they’d have a final “Open Makerspace” session where they could choose their favorite material to build with.

That cycle – guided tool exploration, gradual release, and independent choice – is one we now use across all K-5 Makerspace units.

ASHLEY: We also build in opportunities for students to document and reflect on their work using Seesaw, our school’s digital portfolio platform. For kindergarten teachers, it’s important that students learn to capture and share their learning. Plus, Seesaw gives students a place to “keep” their builds – especially helpful when it’s time to take a beloved creation apart!

Once students have been introduced to the materials, they’re considered “open access” and can be used when students finish early or visit the library for breaks. Building has quickly become one of the most popular – and productive – brain breaks!

STEVE: To keep things fresh, we also weave in STEM challenges. We often revisit a single material across grade levels, gradually increasing the complexity. Take K’NEX, for example:

• Kindergarten: Build a single, connected structure.
• Grade 1: Build a tower.
• Grade 2: Build a bridge.
• Grade 3: Build a vehicle.

We even take it a step further by having students make stop-motion videos with their K’NEX vehicles!

ASHLEY: One of my favorite parts of this work is highlighting mentor texts that support a maker mindset – books that encourage creativity, teamwork, perseverance, and problem-solving. A few student favorites include:

• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
• Boxitects by Kim Smith
• The Questioneers Series by Andrea Beaty

Picture books are such a powerful tool to help students build background knowledge and set intentions before jumping into a project.

STEVE: You can probably guess many of the staples in our Makerspace – LEGO, K’NEX, and craft materials – but here are a few unique additions our students love:

• Keva planks (a hit from K-5)
• Strawbees
• Makedo tools for advanced cardboard construction
• Electric cardboard cutters (Pro tip: while not used by students, an electric meat cutter works great for curves!)

For upper grades, we’ve added:

• littleBits and Makey Makey for invention conventions
• Robotics with a twist: Students build K’NEX chariots and race them using Sphero Bolt robots
• LEGO SPIKE™ Essential and Spike Prime kits
• VEX IQ robots for advanced elementary and middle school challenges

This is just the beginning! In our next post, we’ll dive into the world of digital making and how we bring coding, design, and storytelling to life in our Learning Commons.

Stay tuned – and keep making!

More in this series:

• History Part 1: Setting the Stage for an Integrated, 21st-Century Program
• History Part 2: Preparing for Makerspace Year 1
• History Part 3: Preparing for Year 1 of an Integrated Library and Makerspace Program - The Learning Commons

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

ASHLEY HEALEY

Teacher Librarian, Stratham Memorial School, New Hampshire

Ashley Healey is a National Board Certified Teacher with a passion for reading, writing, technology, and maker culture. She’s dedicated to creating dynamic, inclusive library spaces where students can explore new ideas, develop critical thinking skills, and expand their imaginations.

Ashley serves as the PreK-5 Teacher Librarian at Stratham Memorial School in Stratham, New Hampshire. She also teaches graduate courses at the University of New Hampshire’s Summer Literacy Institute and is the Field Director for the UNH Writers Academy for Youth. Find her at @ashleyhealey.bsky.social.

STEPHEN GAGNON

Digital Learning Specialist, Stratham Memorial School, New Hampshire

Steve Gagnon has worked at Stratham Memorial School since 1993, teaching Grades 3-5. He spent two years as the assistant principal and is currently the Digital Learning Specialist for the school. In 2014, he converted his school’s computer lab into a Makerspace, which continues to grow and thrive today. Steve’s students love the Makerspace program because it enables them to use technology to create meaningful learning experiences. Steve is the New Hampshire Society for Technology in Education (NHSTE) 2012 Pat Keyes Technology-Using Educator Award Winner. Find him at @jstevieg.bsky.social.

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