Lima Primary School students get a chance at woodworking during the Lima Maker Faire last month. Photo by Donna MacKenzie
BY DONNA MACKENZIE
With the emphasis on inquiry-based learning whereby students learn concepts by doing in addition to listening to teachers, Maker Faires are quickly becoming popular. The students at Lima Primary School loved the Maker Faire at the school on October 27.
The kindergarteners and first-graders had lots of activities to choose from. They could take apart old equipment. For students interested in the arts, they could learn origami at one station or create something from playdough or make their own tattoos at another or learn about drama through Drama Kids.
Students interested in building had a wide variety of choices: creating toothpick structures, making something from Legos or snap circuits, making an airplane, wood kits, woodworking or creating a Fairy House. The kids could also learn life-skill activities such as cooking or sewing. Activities with a bit more of a business or professional career slant included medical, 3D printing, coding and circuits, creating their own business card or spy science. For the whimsical, fun side of hands-on learning, there was making slime, soapmaking, marble mazes, button-making, magic, pumpkin chucking and LED Throwies. To get some exercise, kids could participate in karate ninja warrior.
In addition to these activities, students were able to explore two construction vehicles, a Lima Ambulance unit and the aerial truck from the Lima Fire Department and interact with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Patrol Unit.
