MIT Edgerton Center Maker Resources for K-12 Educators MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  Makerspace Resources for K-12 Educators
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Idea Gallery

Adaptable, inspirational Maker project ideas that have been shared by K-12 Teachers and Maker-Educators
These adaptable project ideas are tagged by Object OR Tool, NOT by core subject area or grade level. Objects are the kinds of things that students will create while Tools are the specialized Maker tools and materials that students will use.  
Check out our collection of Maker starter projects to get your education community Making. No curriculum tie-in required.
Latest ideas
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Small, hand-powered mechanical device depicting a scene from Macbeth, with three witches and a boiling cauldron.
Automata with PVC Pipe Base
Paper models of a cactus, a succulent plant, and a flat-roofed home
3D from 2D: Nets and Interlocking Shapes
Screenshot of interactive Scratch program game featuring a crab on a boardwalk.
Intro to Block Based Coding
short tumbler glass with etched design depicting "2023" in the shape of a rabbit
Etched Glass with Vinyl Stencils
still image from an animation depicting the digestive system
Create Animations and Videos from Slides
the vinyl outline of a bicycle shaped sticker
DIY Stickers
Light Sensitive Rover
Paper Lanterns
Biome Dioramas
3D out of 2D
Paper Canoes
Constellation Boxes
Linkable Automata
Bill of Rights - MakeyMakey + Scratch
Passport Stamps
Black Out Poetry with Lights
LED Quiz Boards
Moiré Animations
Identity Squares
Clothespin Characters
laser cut chess pieces depicting civil war northern states and figures
Chess Sets
hand-sewn plush skulls in a variety of colors
Felt Skulls for Dia de Muertos
paper marigold illuminated by yellow LED, decorated with cartoon skulls
Light Up Flowers for Dia De Los Muertos
3 woven yarn squares, each with distinctive 2-color patterns
Weaving and Computational Thinking
Scratch-generated graphic showing a yarn-weaving pattern
Coding Weave Patterns in Scratch
mobile made of foam shapes tied to wooden balance rod
Math Mobiles
felt flags of 5 countries wired with LEDs - the electronics of a 6th flag are revealed
Light Up Flags
a seven pointed star created with string and pins
Polygram String Art
a black fabric shoulder bag decorated with a red letter A, displayed with an open copy of the Scarlet Letter
Attribute Accessories
a model of a webbed foot made from drinking straws and duct tape
Mechanical Models of Bird Feet
3 digitally cut paper sheets, showing illustrations of a golden mean spiral, fractals in plant anatomy, and radial symmetry
Papel Picado
screenshot of a student costumed in a robe against a greenscreened backdrop of Greek-style columns
Words from the Myths Videos
an office-supply organizing caddy made from corrugated plastic, holding sheets of craft material and markers
Organizers
3 laser-cut wooden boxes, each displaying a different constellation constructed with LEDs
Constellation Boxes
a metal key decorated with a plastic cap
Key Kozies
a paper globe marked with a sign reading "wheat production" and maps marked to show major wheat producing regions
Maps of the World
6 hands, each holding up  a tiny paper lantern that casts a colored silhouette on a dark wall
Festive Flashlights
a map of Mexico with a route drawn on, and a small robot glowing at one end of the route line
Literary Mapping with Ozobots
two hands holding a cardboard ring, illuminated from the inside with changeable color LEDs
Infinity Mirrors
a plastic lump made of hot glue, glowing from the inside with embedded LEDs
Glowing Figurines
a screenshot of a 3-D model of a cat-face-shaped cookie cutter
Cookie Cutters
the mold, cast, and replicas of a heart-shaped chocolate lollipop
Chocolate Molds
a keychain with an MIT logo, with 2 lit LEDs
Light-up Backpack Tags
a pop-up card showing a cut-paper biplane and clouds made of crumpled tissue paper
Pop-up Cards
cardstock cutout of a crested bird, displayed as a shadowbox style pop up
Shadow Boxes
3-D printed sailboat shapes
2D Art on a 3D Printer
3D printed and laser-cut earbud holders in a variety of animal shapes
Earbud Buddies
Edge-lit Acrylic
a puma's head, and 2 other animals, made of interlocking cardstock pieces
3D by the Slice
a humanoid kinetic sculpture that the user controls with hydraulic syringes
Hydraulic Pets and Friends
a mini-golf course
Mini Golf Course
propeller-driven vehicles
Fan-Powered Vehicles
the pads and Arduino controller that comprise a 4-piece electronic drum kit
Arduino Drum Pads
a laser-cut bird puppet with brass brads forming moveable joints
Shadow Puppets
the feet of a student standing on a video game control pad
Video Game Controllers
a laser-cut puzzle showing thematic relationships between 4 major American novels
Tile Puzzles
a student wears a weather-proof hat while a teacher sprays  water on her to test it
Weather-proof Hats
a 3-D printed ring with interchangeable, pop-out 3-D printed gem
Snap-in Custom Rings
balloon-powered cars built on a chassis of 3-D printed parts
Balloon Cars
portion of a Rube Goldberg machine, showing a vehicle triggered by something that drops through a funnel
Chain-reaction Machines
a custom-built wind-up toy topped with a bee-like, googly-eyed creature
Wind-up Toys
Custom Currencies
collection of plastic tiles decorated with LEDs, each designed and built by a student
Light-up Tiles
7 hexagonal tiles laser-engraved with personalized team names and student-created slogans
Magnetic Tiles
Automata
decorate pinwheel sculptures and oblong pendant made of glass
Fused Glass Art
a screenshot of a Scratch  program leading the user on a virtual tour of a traditional Wampanoag home
Virtual Tours
model constellation made of LEDs on a plastic backing - example shows the Big Dipper
LED Constellations
a 1st grader hammers nails into a decorative wooden stepping stone
Shape Stepping Stones
a pop up book illustrating the the phases of mitosis
Pop-Up Books
a sculpture depicting a skeleton in military dress lying on a battlefield, with an explanatory poster behind it
War and Humanity
a 3-D printed winged creature
Create a Creature
Ancient Village Models
a 3-D printed container in use as a mini compost bin
Miniature Compost Bins
a custom-made board game show with vocabulary playings cards
Board Games
a Simba plush toy modified with electronics
Fearbots

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  • Home
    • Getting Started >
      • What is Making?
      • Types of Makerspaces
      • Goals
    • About Us
    • Contact
  • Teacher PD
    • Webinars
    • Maker Project Workshops
    • Master Making in the Classroom
    • Maker PD Packages
    • Invention Ed
    • Workshop Materials
  • Create Projects
    • Maker Methodology
    • Idea Gallery
    • K-12 Maker Instructables
    • Maker Skills Starter Projects
    • Virtual Tools and Projects
    • Special Programs >
      • Aprendo Creando >
        • Presentaciones
      • FullSTEAM
  • Run a Makerspace
    • Design Guide
    • Facilities and Storage
    • Maker tools
    • Training and Supervision
    • Staff, Hours and Scheduling
    • Events and Growth
  • Maker Tools
    • Shop Tools and Materials
    • Electronics
    • Physical Computing
    • 2D Design Software
    • Vinyl/Craft Cutters
    • Laser Cutting
    • 3D Design Tools
    • 3D Printing
    • Photo and Video
    • Sewing
  • Articles and Books