Maplewood Library Hilton Branch hosted NJ Makers Day on March 19, as part of the Maplewood Ideas Festival. More than 240 people attended; most were elementary and middle school age kids but the event also drew high school students and preschoolers.
“Our theme this year was engineering,” said Teen Librarian Irene Langlois. “The cardboard construction and marble roller coaster were probably the most popular projects. The kids used MakeDo kits which consist of safety saws, screws and screwdrivers to build structures for their marble roller coasters. There was also a marble run. Through these activities the kids learned about potential and kinetic energy. There were kids that stayed in that room for the entire event!”
The library used its new recording studio to find out what participants thought about the NJ Makers Day event. The mini 3D CAD workshop customized the NJ Makers Day robot (see attached photo).
Langlois was at the building blocks station where children made blocks out of six business cards. “Two moms had to drag their daughters away from my station; I gave them extra business cards to take home and finish building their fractal out of the blocks.”
“Library staff and our incredible volunteers had as much fun as the kids providing hands-on STEM activities and making NJ Makers Day a success,” said Langlois.
Photos (except for 3D robot) credit Franck Goldberg. Click any photo to begin.
