Make your own yoghurt, soap or sunscreen. Measure the amount of particulate matter in your environment or learn about how acidic it is. Or learn how plants move into the wider world - all by using your own hands.
The Waag Makerbox is a collection of Waag's instructables in the field of maker education. Instructables are printable step-by-step plans that allow you to learn things by making. The Makerbox is specifically aimed at children between 9 and 12 years old. The instructables are suitable for use in the classroom or to carry out at home. So you can download, print and use them for free!
Some instructables can only be performed in a Maakplaats, such as the ones present in various locations of the Amsterdam Public Library. This is indicated. Please note that most instructables are only available in Dutch.
What is maker education?
Maker education is learning (by) doing. It is a creative way to help children become inventors. Maker education stimulates the head, the hands and the heart. In recent years, all kinds of modern technologies have become cheap and more widely available. Think of 3D printers and electronics, which allow children to design and make in an accessible way. Today's students can use these tools to develop their creativity. The connection between creativity and technology allows children to grow: knowledge is immediately applied and used to make things they like, find beautiful or important, for themselves, others or the world.
Learning by doing
Learning by doing starts with curiosity and wonder. It challenges children to discover and investigate, to look critically and question, and it appeals to the imagination. Children get to know and learn how to work with different materials, tools and machines. They work out creative ideas and shape solutions. By working together, they develop their own self and their identity as makers. Finally, they can reflect on what their creation and the process mean.
