Maker Kids build a lot of cool things that they share with others. Their inventions may even change the world. For example, students at PS 107 sat with engineers and other staff from Unchartered Play in December and brainstormed how to add components (e.g. re-chargeable batteries, magnets and wires to axles) to the scooters they are building to harness, store and distribute energy. Watch for updates and photographs of their working prototypes in March.

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Maker Kids was  featured on NY 1 news and in this press release for the World Maker Faire.  You can learn how to make a lot of cool things on Maker Kids. There are “how tos” on this site and videos of what we’ve made that can get you started. There are also “projects” with links to more ideas. I made my own toy robot by tearing the top off a toy car and building a robot body on top of the car body with Erector set parts. I also added a motor to the middle of the robot’s body and attached a pinwheel. I connected the motor to the battery with a rubber band and alligator clips. Toy robots are similar to real robots because they are mechanical, but this robot is not programmed. We also learned how to program robots with LEGO WeDo. First we built the robots with LEGO bricks, then we told them what to do by dragging pictures (icons) on our computer screens.

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