Watch our 3D Printer Work

Watch the video below to check out some of our first projects we have made using our 3D Printer.

Our new robot!

We are thrilled to announce we have added a new robot to our Makerspace! Please welcome our MAKERBOT 3D Printer! The second graders gathered around the 3D printer to learn how it works and hold some of the items it has made so far. Want to learn more about how 3D Printers work? Click on the video below.

Tallest Tower Challenge

Several students took the challenge to build the tallest tower using Legos or kNex. Together they designed and made revisions to their original ideas along the way. As the towers grew taller many realized they had to make a plan for support to ensure their tower was able to stand on its own.

Upon completion of their tower, students were asked to measure their towers height and record it on the challenge board. As more grade levels visit the Makerspace, they will try and outbuild the reigning tower champ. Currently in the lead is Laith and Jaiden who made a tower out of kNex. Their tower measures 79 inches tall.

The First Build Challenge- Design Something to Hold Pencils

When students enter the Build Bunker they can accept many challenges. They have opportunities to design something in a Build Challenge, learn something new in a Learning Challenge, or solve a problem in a Make It Work Challenge. These Challenges are posted on a bulletin board and announced every month.

Being new to the concept of Makerspaces, we wanted to keep our challenges relatively simple the first time students start to visit. We decided on an easy concept, design something to hold pencils. The creativity the kids  used to come up with an idea was fantastic. Some students used crafty and recyclable materials, others used Legos and kNex. A few students even challenged themselves to design a pencil holder using Tinkercad online design studio. Check out some of their ideas!

Challenge Board

Designing on Tinkercad

Butterfly Pencil Holder

Lego Man Pencil Holder

Feather Covered Pencil Holder

Angel Pencil Holder

Students label their projects so they can work on them over the course of five days. 

The BAM Build Bunker Opens!

Our Bon Air Elementary Makerspace vision came to life this past week. Our first group of students entered the space filled with anticipation and wonder. We watched several videos of Makerspaces around the United States and we brainstormed what our Makerspace might look like. Together our B.A.M. Build Bunker was born!

Thanks to our generous donors who donated funds towards our Donor's Choose Build Bunker project we were able to purchase supplies to get our vision off the ground. Our donors donated over $450 to support our idea and make our dream a reality.

This week a group of third graders had the privilege to open the boxes of supplies that were purchased by our donors. Inside they found boxes of Legos, KNEX, snap circuits, and virtual building games. They were anxious to get started "making" with these new supplies.

The expressions of joy will warm your heart as these students get to enjoy Christmas in September!

If you are interested in donating to our project, it would help sustain the life of our Build Bunker Please visit our Donor's Choose website and consider donating. Your funds are used for gift cards we use to purchase more supplies and continue keeping our Makerspace a fully stocked space. The more supplies we have available the more students we can work with on a daily basis. Visit our site below!

B.A.M. Build Bunker Makerspace Project 

Welcome!

Welcome to the Be A Maker Build Bunker Blog! Our Makerspace is set to open in mid-September. Check back soon for more information.