In this hands-on tinkering session, we will explore the idea of using everyday materials and tools in unexpected ways. Whether you are designing making activities that are fully guided or completely open-ended, the choices concerning materials can make a huge difference to how learners engage with the workshop. From sticks to straws to LEGO blocks, we’ll consider how tinkering activities can make simple ingredients infinitely interesting.

MakerSpaces based in science engagement organisations are an open source community where people create and share environments, activities, and new ideas. In this hands-on session, various makers will introduce activities that can support learning about content skills and practices in a science centre or museum.

This will be an opportunity to see how things might work in a drop-in makerspace, try out something new and learn from the makers of the Ecsite community. The benefit of the community is to pass on ideas and resources, try them out and keep developing them. Tables will be set with different tinkering activities allowing engagement with hands-on tinkering led by experts who are working them out in their own spaces.