Maker Dads makes impression on Shields
Briggs Gannon beamed when he held up a sign rooting for an Eagles win at this year's Super Bowl.
The green board painted with #FLYEAGLESFLY was just one of the many hands-on activities available to students and their parents during the school's initial Maker Dads event.
Joe Mazza, a Philadelphia parent and University of Pennsylvania Ph.D., is the force behind the movement to give children more hands-on experiences.
“A lot of what we're going to do is have a really good time with dad,” he said, adding that mom, grandmom, granddad and any other guardian is welcome.
The Shields gymnasium offered varied stations of activities, all designed to give students a real feel for creating. The Eagles signs were part of a painting workshop at one end of the gym, while on the other side a stack of computer equipment sat ready for students to take apart. A virtual reality station let students and parents put on goggles to experience swimming with dolphins, flying a fighter jet or riding a roller-coaster, while old computer games were at another station.
“We're going to let you make your own game and then let your buddy play it,” Mazza said.
A 3D printer hummed away creating plastic animals and other shapes that students could hold and play with.
Speaking to a class of kindergartners, Mazza asked the children what they like to make. Some said cakes and cookies. One girl said she likes to turn her bunk bed into a tree home.
Mazza liked all their ideas, and he encouraged everyone to look for ways to make things in everyday life.
“When you hear about it in the news, bring attention to the word maker,” he said.
Last fall, Shields Principal Jenny Nauman said three students came up with the idea to add more hands-on activities at Shields. Nauman said she met with students once a week during lunch, and when she heard about the Maker Dads program, it was a perfect fit.
“It was an organic thing that started with the students,” she said. “It's about figuring out what kids want to learn and letting them learn.”
Nauman said she hopes the Maker Dads event is the start of many more.
“We want students to learn how to create at school and then bring that creativity home,” she said.
