Living Library

On Mondays at Tinkering School there is a lot going on and so many new things to learn. Besides getting used to the space and learning how to use the tools - we try to get the kids to hyper focus on two really important things: safety and teamwork.  

We begin right off the bat by asking the campers for their ideas on how to keep themselves and each other safe and having a good time. Emotional and physical safety are equally important!

Haruki signs his name to the Group Agreement.

After we have a nice rounded out list of Group Agreements we launch into the tool training where kids can practice being safe and working together.

Evan shows the kids where to find safety glasses and ear muffs before going into the chop saw room. 

Josie and Gabe work together to clamp a piece of wood to the table.

Drill training is a great opportunity to lend a helping hand and discover that work goes twice as fast when working with a friend!

Dylan, Abe and company practice cleaning up after making a mess and making sure the tools are taken care of and returned to their places.

After some play time at the park and lunch, the kids eagerly return to the building to find out what they'll be building this week! The projects will be Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Upside Down House, a Homework Machine - inspired by Shel Silverstein's poem, and a giant Pop-Up Book.

The kids separate into project groups to imagine, share ideas, and plan how to make words into three dimensional objects we can interact with!

Brainstorming key Upside-Down House components.

Lucas sketches a Quidditch Pop-Up layout.

Pop-Up group explores smaller complex pop-ups to figure out how these things even work!

Each of the projects is very different and we're excited to see where each one goes!