Art in The MakerSpace

For the Last six weeks the Biggies have been working in the MakerSpace with Artist Eilidh Manton.

This week we had a dash for the finish ending with a Exhibition in the Playground for the rest of the school.

For the Last six weeks the Biggies have been working in the MakerSpace with Artist Eilidh Manton.

You can see some of the progress on earlier posts.

This week we had a dash for the finish ending with a Exhibition in the Playground for the rest of the school.

I am incredibly proud of the way the children worked over the weeks. Especially on talking to Eilidh. She was very impressed at the children’s practical skills, the way they solved problems and their ability to talk about what they were doing and learning.

The class were especially impressive talking about their work to the other pupils and staff in the playground Exhibition.

Today the pupils continued to impress by writing about their projects. Some wrote about the technical details, some about the feeling and some wrote poems. All the writing below is by the artists.

The Swan – Tony

I wrote a wee poem for ye
The auld swan shall come Tae me
Doon the wee canal
Ye may see it come round Tae ye
The auld swan shall come Tae me

I chose a swan because when I think of Banton i think about nature and in Banton there is a pond with swans in it so that’s why I did it. I also chose it because I like swans and think they are cool. I like this idea and enjoyed making it.

The Forrest – Xander

    My creation represents jealousy.
It makes me happy when I look at it when I am jealous.
Its leaves are green like nature.
The leaves are crunchy when I step on the leaves.
When I look at the animals they are cute.
They are very fluffy and furry.
The birds are very noisy alll the time.
The trees are full of apples.
The apples are very tasty.
The forest is always there for me.

The Watermill – Calum

I made the water mill because I wanted to make some more complicated. I made a mechanism that made it spin round. It was hard to hot glue the curved cardboard.
My creation makes me feel accomplished.

A few weeks ago we started art in the makerspace. An artist named Eilidh Manson came in to do some art with us. We made some sketch books. I didn’t actually choose it. Mr Johnston showed me how to make a tree trunk. I made a tree but I made a leap of logic and it gave me a super lit idea so I made a forest. When I cut the cardboard it was a bit stiff. It was easy to make animal figurines. The finished project made me feel happy.

Peepcorn and other consumables – Noah

They where called spittles it took a couple weeks to do but I done it (hardly). Tt was hard at bits I used creative thinking, problem thinking And more. Then I made a susy and peep-corn they both hard to made. The materials I needed were cardboard, fabric and more!!

The Cherry Tree Juliet, Chloe & Alexia

Once boxes and bags,
Now a tall Cherry tree,
And branches inside can’t you see.
Tissue paper flowers and packaging paper bark.
Held together by glue and duct tape and things like that.
Some real branches hiding,
They blend in so well,
you nearly can’t tell,
It’s a cardboard tree.

Door Toes & Prongles -Jason

The flavour of door toes is like fire, burns your tongue more than a ghost pepper nothing else can beat it in spice.

Prongles is the biggest snack you can have it holds world records with it, it never expires you will love it especially the new giant flavour even bigger that the big flavour so EAT NOW.

The Swan – Robert

The Swan is nice and relaxing,
The cam seats are so calm,
The atmosphere is quiet,
A wee nice feeling roams the air.

I made the swan (pub/bar/restaurant) because I felt like it really symbolised Banton in a good way. The community made it a nice place to eat or drink at.

It makes me feel happy, calm, and bit sad and a wee bit nervous. I feel happy because I finally finished the project. I feel calm because now I don’t have to juggle all the thoughts of what to do next in my head and sad because Eilidh Madison (who helped us build it) will not come back. I also feel nervous because it might collapse. I feel quite good.

Note, Roberts use of cam in the poem is deliberate, a Biggie Engneering joke!

The Shed – Gene

Why I made it 

I chose to build the shed and the tools inside it because at the start before we built anything I was struggling for ideas. I thought of tools outside in the playground and I thought of a shovel. Then after I built the shovel I built a broom then a bucket then the shed. 

Exhibition 

 My class displayed the things we have been working on for the past few weeks. We told everyone about how we made it, features, why we made it and more like what’s above. Everyone liked the exhibition. It was very fun. Some things gone wrong but we had a great time. The exhibition was a success in the end.

The Owl – Billie

Art Update 3

This week we made a lot of progress in the MakerSpace. The class were so busy we did not have much time for reflection or taking notes. We can really see the ideas being brought to life. The class have a very wider range of ideas! Some of the ideas are beinging to expand, either in size or complexity.

This week we made a lot of progress in the MakerSpace. The class were so busy we did not have much time for reflection or taking notes. We can really see the ideas being brought to life. The class have a very wider range of ideas! Some of the ideas are beinging to expand, either in size or complexity.

I did ask the pupils how we could improve out teaching. This was met with a series of ideas for expanding the space. This included, planning & painting areas, Space for painting and being able to leave work in a more organised way. All good ideas but difficult to do given the space we are lucky have.

Arty Cardboard

We had our second visit from Artist Eilidh Manson yesterday. Every one has started on a weird or wonderful piece of Art. We have mill wheels, cats up trees and giant packet of pringles, and a lot more great ideas.

The class are all now becoming increasingly independent in the MakerSpace, working safely with care.

Today in the maker space I started on making my water mill.
I filled my toilet roll with tissue but then I took it out and but a stick in then put tissue back in it.
I cut round card board and hot glued it on.

Calum

Today in the MakerSpace I made a tree and I made it into phase 2 Mr tree.
I made it in one WHOLE day.
When I cut the square on the bottom it was a bit stiff.
I wrapped even more tape to make it less fragile.

Xander

Today I made a drinkable slush made out of cardboard and I made a pop corn which I renamed peep-corn it’s called peep-corn because you can look thru a hole I learned loads of new techniques and you can drink out the slush because there’s a cup behind the cardboard.

Noah

Today in the maker space I made a swan.🦢
I have made the main body.
I have also started a slot so it can stand up.
I haven’t finished it yet but when I do it will look beautiful.
I learned that if something didn’t work try it again and if that doesn’t work leave it for later.

Tony

Today in the MakerSpace I started my art project. I started with making the roof for the first building. It was hard to do it but I kinda weaved cardboard to make it 2 times and put them together with an angle. The I added something to stop the angle from changing. Then I make 2 30x20cm parts and 2 30x30cm parts. I put them together to make a square. It got a lot better at making roofs with tiles and cutting with saws.

Robert

Today in the MakerSpace I started my art project. Im doing it with Chloe and we are going to do a tree with a cat stuck in it. We have got the base done and next week we are going to build it up then make the outside look like bark and add the branches and some flowers.

Juliet

Today we were in the MakerSpace and I made a giant Pringle can.
I started by using a giant tube, then put a lid on the bottom. then made 2 small Pringles then curved them to look like Pringles, then I but some hot glue on the so they would look like a actual Pringle with all the powder things then I add all the labelling and picture of the guys face.

Jason

Stem to Steam

Yesterday we had a visit from Artist Eilidh Manson who will be working with us for the next few weeks in the MakerSpace. Putting an artistic slant on our making.

Eilidh stated by talking about how important sketch books are and show us how to make our own. We started using these straight away thinking about Banton and places and things important to the pupils.

We then headed through to the MakerSpace, to experement with cardboard and other materials. This is a warm up for next week when the children will be working on turning their own ideas into art.


We will do some more advanced projects. I know what I’m going to make. I have ideas I want to try. What I think working with Eilidh will be awesome.
My techniques I have learnt.

  1. Roll up cardboard to make a tree trunk.
  2. Scrumple up cardboard to make leaves.
Xander

I think I will do well over the next few sessions and also I think other people will do well too.
I know what I am going to make. I’m going to make the shed in the playground.
I think working with Eilidh will be fun.
I have learnt the technique stacking and I don’t really like it.

Gene

I think over the next few sessions we will start to work on the pieces of art. I think I am going to try to make a tree, I think I want to try using little pieces of wet cardboard as bark but glue it on. I think it is going to be fun working with Eilidh. A new technique I have learned is weaving cardboard.

Juliet
  1. I think it’s going to be a good bunch of sessions and it will be all calm and nice.
  2. I do know what I’m going to make and it is: The Swan (the restaurant in banton)
  3. The ideas I want to try are: making textured walls and making a roof that doesn’t fall.
  4. I think it is going to be nice.
  5. I have learned how to thread cardboard and make 2 walls support a small roof.
Robert

I think we will keep on experimenting
Im going to make a slushy and you can remove the lid and replace it
I’m still thinking of ideas I want to try
I think it will be fun and entertaining
Putting your finger into the top of a bottle and it will be easier to cut it.

Noah

I am going to make the Banton mill
I think that we are going to make interesting things
I think it will be good working with Eilidih

Calum

MakerSpace Christmas Challenge

For the last few weeks the Biggies have been spending their time in the MakerSpace tackling a Christmas Challenge.

  • Design & construct a Christmas Model 🌶
  • Design & construct a Christmas Model that includes a moving part 🌶 🌶
  • Design & construct a Christmas Model that includes a moving part & a simple electrical circuit. 🌶 🌶 🌶
  • Design & construct a Christmas Model that includes a moving part, a simple electrical circuit, & a programmable element. 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

We started off by making plans:

We talked a bit about the skills needed for carrying out or plans and the design cycle.

He results show not only our pupils imagination but a range of skills.


For the last few weeks we made some Christmas models in the Makerspace. We could make anything we wanted, as long as it is Christmas themed. I decided to make a Christmas tree! I was the only one who made a Christmas tree.

There was a lot of problems we had. Here are some of the problems I had:

  • The motor didn’t work
  • The tree was moving when the motor was on
  • The motor was falling of a bit

Here are the solutions I had for the problems

  • Check and re-wire the electronics
  • Add some weights to the tree
  • Tape it on a bit
Robert

I made a train with a carriage carrying presents. I thinked about connecting both the locomotive and the carriage together. So I used pipe cleaners to hook them together. The final product was a success. I liked how I added presents to the carriage.

Problems & Solutions

I used wood to make the presents but they were too tiny so I used Lego to make the presents. I wrapped some wooden circles in tin foil to make some presents.

Xander

I used lots of my skills but I used five main skills. 1. I used planning and organising because I had a plan on what to do. 2. I used ICT for my micro:bit. 3. Numeracy for measuring things. 4. Problem solving for my short and tall stuff. 5. Creative thinking to add details.

Tony

For the maker space Christmas challenge I made a sleigh pulled by a rain deer. It had a light collar and a micro bit in the sleigh. It also moved. We had to make it max 30cm wide, long and tall.

A few problems I had were I didn’t have enough space to make two reindeer like on my plan so I had to move the micro bit to my sleigh. Another problem I had was that my reindeer was to heavy causing my sleigh to tip forwards so I had to pup my rubber in the back until I got the wires and batteries in which held it down.

Some skills I used were planning and organising, ICT, creative thinking and practical skills.

Juliet

First I made a net. Then I hot glued the net together to make a square then I made a roll for the front. Then I added 2 light bulbs and with then I wrote Santas express on it. Lastly I added an spoiler and an antenna and that was me finished

I used my practical skills and my ICT. My problem was the clips would not connect to the light bulb. My idea totally changed at one point because my original plan was a slay that you pull Back against an elastic band.

Noah

Balloon Power

While the Primary 7s are away at Ardvulan for the week enjoying the outdoors the rest of the Biggies have been improving their STEM skills.

We were working on keeping safe while using saws and hot glue guns. And on the test and improve part of the design cycle.

The First round consisted of creating wooden frames with wheels. We then attached a balloon and straw to provide some air power. As well ask keeping safe we practised our measuring, and learn how to use a vice and saw to cut wood. THe hot glue was used to hold the frames together with right-angled (more maths) reinforcements.

After we ran the cars along the corridor we though about how to improve our designs. One idea was to provide a platform for the balloon to stop it getting stuck in the frame. We also adapted the way we connected the balloons to straws to get less leaking.

two children working on model balloon cars

Finally we had a bit of fun in the gym hall testing out the cars to see whose would go the furtherest.

Back in the classroom we identified the learning that had taken place and skills we had improved.

Pupil Voice

We used wood , cardboard, balloons, duct tape, wood sticks, milk lids, card and straws. We used the as the base of the car and the wheels. 

Billie

Our class made some balloon powered cars. They are very cool and can almost go all the way across the hall! They aren’t very durable and not good at going straight though. The things we learned when making these are: how to use saws and hot glue guns, a bit of measuring and how to make a balloon car. 

Robert

The p 5/6/7 made balloon powered cars. We built them then went for a race. The building process was hard though. We built them with cardboard, wood, milk lids, tape, straws, a balloon and a skewer. We used tool that were saws, vice, hot glue guns and snipper as all as I can remember. Also our classroom tools that were pencil, rubber, ruler and scissors.

Gene

We used the 2 10cm and 2 15cm lines of wood that we cut, and used hot glue guns to glue all of it together. One it was glued together we used some paper straws, bottle caps and sticks. We put the wheels through the stick  and the paper straw on top of the sticks. Then after we put a balloon on the car with a reusable straw. We then used duck tape to close it off so no leaks could happen. 

Jason

 First we had to measure the wood into different sizes. Then we had to make right angles and hot glue them all together. After we got a straw and milk lid and put a hole through and attached it on. Then we cut a straw and put the straw through and taped it on.

Noah

How to make it:

  1. First get a 50cm long wooden stick.
  2. Then grab your pencil and draw 2 lines among 15cm.
  3. Then draw 2 lines among 10cm.
  4. Get your saw and cut where the lines are.
  5. Use hot glue to put the sticks into a rectangle shape.
  6. Use a piece of card and use hot glue to stick it on top of your car.
  7. Grab your hot glue gun and flip over the car to stick 2 paper straws onto the bottom of your car.
  8. Use skewers and put them through the paper straws.
  9. Put bottle caps on the skewers to act like wheels.
  10. Stretch a balloon and use scissors to cut the bottom off the balloon.
  11. Put a drinking straw through the balloon.
  12. Then wrap tape in the middle. If it doesn’t work wrap another one on.
  13. Finally put tape on the middle (Don’t wrap) then stick it onto the car and play around.

There you have it! Now you have a cool car at home! WARNING! Don’t put near cats or other sharp things

Xander

After the race finished we went back in the makerSpace and talked about what we had to improved, and the next day we improved them.

(Thursday) on Thursday we improved our cars by putting in a piece of cardboard to stop the balloon from getting caught and bursting, we also used a different type of balloon and cut the top off of it, and we also used a different type of straw which was easier to use. After we improved are balloon we had a different race and stuff like that. The winner was Calum, but I think I did quite good because I was 2nd, the only reason I lost was because my wheels were squinty

Chloe

Scissor Action Extender Monsters

We had our first session in the MakerSpace this week. We had to follow some instructions to make a Scissor Action Extender Monster.

After making their monsters the Biggies then made some short green screen movies using their monsters, you can see them at the end of this video:

Although the monsters seem simple and the videos were very short we learn or practises a lot of skills:

  • Communication, listening to instructions, asking good questions.
  • Practical Skills
  • Problem Solving, almost everyone made mistakes!
  • Digital Skills
    • Taking stills and video
    • Using the green screen
    • Editing videos, adding green screen overlay & audio
    • Recording audio
    • Using WordPress to add our videos to our e-portfolios
  • Literacy Skills, we wrote about our learning.

Architecture Challenge

For our last day of term we had another cardboard creativity challenge.

We had looked at some of the work of architect Frank Gehry, and some new cardboard engineering methods. The Challenge was to make a model building, less than 40cm x 40cm x 40cm. Some were inspired by Mr Gehry some seemed to come from the pupils own imagination.

A video from the start of the process.

And after some progress was made:

The Final Products

Along with some of the planning sheets.

The children showed an amazing amount of creativity. They are also now great at solving problems and not giving up.

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