This past month, I volunteered to assist with the San Mateo County Office of Education's contribution to the Redwood City STEAM Festival. SMCOE runs a Cardboard City at this event. Our role was to encourage, guide and assist children and adults with the creation of a temporary Cardboard City. My tag line for people was, "Welcome to Cardboard City of the Future, where you are only limited by your imagination!"
Before the event began, we did a quick start up of the area by creating a paper road and roundabout. We each then built something as examples. I decided to build a giant skyscraper based on the size of some cardboard I found. For Cardboard City, we did not put out tape but instead focused on having participants use Makedos, which are great reusable screws designed for cardboard construction They can be used to create hinges, moving parts or to keep something together. I also ended up making a rollercoaster. A kid who joined us for a while decided to add a parking lot since that is important to have near an amusement park.
I also helped man the button making station we had set up. Button making is quite popular with various age groups. I found children were highly engaged and interested in the process of how to make a button and the satisfaction of pulling down the button maker handle to put it all together. We did have basic directions out and I encouraged participants to read the and follow the step by step directions, which for school age children, is always a skill for them to practice. We were there for 6 hours, but time flew by because we were having fun!
Creating a Cardboard City in any makerspace or school site is easy and cheap! I encourage the idea of using something like makedos vs disposable tape that is not technically recyclable. It is a great introduction activity to generate creativity, collaboration, ownership, trouble shooting and perserverance, which are important in this day and age.
Before the event began, we did a quick start up of the area by creating a paper road and roundabout. We each then built something as examples. I decided to build a giant skyscraper based on the size of some cardboard I found. For Cardboard City, we did not put out tape but instead focused on having participants use Makedos, which are great reusable screws designed for cardboard construction They can be used to create hinges, moving parts or to keep something together. I also ended up making a rollercoaster. A kid who joined us for a while decided to add a parking lot since that is important to have near an amusement park.
I also helped man the button making station we had set up. Button making is quite popular with various age groups. I found children were highly engaged and interested in the process of how to make a button and the satisfaction of pulling down the button maker handle to put it all together. We did have basic directions out and I encouraged participants to read the and follow the step by step directions, which for school age children, is always a skill for them to practice. We were there for 6 hours, but time flew by because we were having fun!
Creating a Cardboard City in any makerspace or school site is easy and cheap! I encourage the idea of using something like makedos vs disposable tape that is not technically recyclable. It is a great introduction activity to generate creativity, collaboration, ownership, trouble shooting and perserverance, which are important in this day and age.
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