MakerSpace Day fosters creative thinking

From left, second graders Aliya Rogers, Caleb McDaniels, Nicholas Cara, Ryder Stahl and Malcolm Bristow use scraps of recycled materials to create a sculpture. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — Students at John Paul II School here welcomed the school’s fourth annual MakerSpace Day with glee.

Held on May 2 this year, the all-day event was led by enrichment coordinator Peggy Kelly, who sparked the idea when she joined the school’s staff in 2018.

From left, fifth graders Felix Bell and Brennan Leary create scented soaps as parent volunteer Sarah Preu supervises. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

First through eighth graders participated in exciting activities designed to develop students’ skills in problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork and ingenuity.

A station run by Scraps KC, a local organization that brought materials for students to create projects out of recycled materials, was a hit.

From left, Eva Rivera, Jacquie Churchill and Dariel Baca decorate cookies at one of the eighth-grade MakerSpace booths. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Another highlight was the “Duct Tape Fashion Show” hosted by the school’s sixth and seventh graders. The students created outfits made solely out of duct tape and paper.

Students were faced with challenges and prompted to solve them. They were encouraged to be resourceful, work hard and have fun.

To view an album of photos from John Paul II’s MakerSpace Day, click here.