New space at Watson Elementary School spurs creativity

Students at Floyd B. Watson Elementary School discovered an innovative and educational new space in their building upon returning to school earlier this month.

The school transformed a multipurpose room into a makerspace, which is a designated area where students can gather to create, invent, explore and discover using a variety of materials. It is a space that promotes learning through play and experimentation, employing cross-disciplinary elements of math, science, technology, art and craftsmanship. Students are provided opportunities to problem-solve using their hands and brains. They have the freedom to explore their own interests and come up with projects that they would like to create.

Watson’s makerspace is off to a great start. Students have been introduced to a myriad of activities and challenges, which provide tactile and kinesthetic experiences to nurture curiosity. They have launched and flown drones, experimented with Cubelet robots and battery-powered circuits, and built structures with Legos and Keva blocks. Future plans include hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they engage in science and engineering principles. The goal of this endeavor is to boost student confidence and foster greater enthusiasm for learning.

Fifth-grader Harris Breen said, “I’d rather spend time in Makerspace than play on my X-Box.”