Where to visit a makerspace?
Depending on your child’s interests, there are a variety of makerspaces your family can visit within the Oklahoma City metro.
TINKERING GARAGE AT SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA
JELLY BOX 3D PRINTER AT MLS STUDIO
Science Museum Oklahoma is like one big makerspace. Within many of the exhibits, kids can get hands-on with scientific principles such as building dams to combat erosion, constructing with large scale blocks, digging with excavators in the gardens or perfecting the art of a paper airplane. While tinkering is encouraged throughout, the museum does have two dedicated makerspaces. The Tinkering Garage, located in the center of the museum, is a space designed for “kids 7 to 700,” according to Chris Seyfrett, tinkering and special projects educator at Science Museum Oklahoma. Tinker Works, a neighborhood garage in Curiocity, is perfect for young kids. In each of the makerspaces, activities change regularly to engage kids with a variety of STEAM experiences such as animation, puppetry, robotics, plastic fusion, snap circuits and even something called automata, which are mechanical toys driven by crankshafts. In March, the Tinkering Garage will feature take-aparts where kids can see what is inside computers, toasters and more. Both spaces are open during museum hours and are free with admission. Science Museum Oklahoma is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more about the exhibits, plus school break camps, at sciencemuseumok.org.
The Metropolitan Library System currently has one in-library makerspace lab, called MLS Studio, and a mobile makerspace that visits libraries throughout the system. The new Belle Isle Library will include a makerspace lab and a third is planned for the new Almonte Library. Each of the libraries will have different tools and programs in their makerspaces. MLS stands for Making, Learning, Sharing, highlighting the goal of the makerspaces to support educational, professional and personal growth. The all-ages makerspace serves local entrepreneurs as well as families, providing free access to materials, tools and software. The only thing you need to use the makerspace is a library card. Families go through orientation to learn safety and operational guidelines and sign a user agreement. Kids ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Bethany Library MLS Studio is open on a first come, first served basis, Monday through Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment only on weekends. Visit metrolibrary.org for more information on programs offered at libraries throughout the metro.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAR-APR 2022 19
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