Maker Tools and Team Building

During this workshop, we met at the Ann Richards Makerspace to learn and practice how to use different power tools to make low ropes elements. The 7th grade class at ARS typically builds a series of low ropes elements that fosters interdisciplinary learning and team building. The course that the 7th graders build is used for incoming 6th graders who use the low ropes as a team building exercise during their orientation at ARS. 

First, we worked in partners to design a proposal for a low ropes element and then presented this proposal to a panel. Then, this panel voted on three or four elements that seemed the most valuable (in terms of educational and team building potential) and would be the most efficient and achievable to build given the time limitations of our workshop. Then, we split into groups to build these different elements. 

My group built a review game that consisted of several balance boards and dry erase flags that would act as response cards. We used plywood, old dry erase boards, PVC pipes, wooden dowels, and zip ties as our materials and we constructed the various pieces of our element using measuring tapes, speed squares, drills, hand saws, and a circular saw. Our element could be used as a review game for any subject, meant to be played with teams. It could have definitely used some improvements, such as additional safety features, but could be used as a different option for review to get students moving and physically active.

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You can read more about how the ropes courses are built and used at ARS here.

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