Seeking new ideas about craft programs? Looking for ways to creatively extend curriculum? On a tight budget? This session will share examples of programs where kids explore materials and construct projects of their own design. Then participants will have a chance to brainstorm and create together. When offered a seed of an idea rather than a set outcome, young planners and builders can expand their natural curiosity while developing creative thinking skills. Simple design suggestions (Build a Robot! Construct a Town!) combined with easy-to-collect supplies are the basis for these program possibilities. Open-ended projects encourage the complex thinking and problem solving central to STEM education, and can be modified to meet the needs of all ages. What can you do with a cardboard box?
