Social-Emotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects

Book excerpt: Social-Emotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects is chock-full of meaningful projects that educators can use to teach social-emotional skills in grades 3-6. The projects show students how to create a digital calming room, prototype an inclusive playground, and make recycled cards with paper circuits to spread kindness. They also teach young makers how to focus on self-regulation and self-care, engage in community outreach by helping struggling families, and tell their own stories using podcasting and green screening. In addition, the book provides teachers with helpful strategies for scaffolding passion projects, funding a makerspace, and tips for building community and celebrating diversity. With the engaging ideas in this book, educators will be able to help their students build direct connections to social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making, self-management, and self-awareness (CASEL’s SEL Framework).