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I went to a fantastic session at the Texas Library Association Conference in 2024 about passive programming, led by Elizabeth Herndon, Rebecca Gruen, and Nancy Limmer, and I put a ton of their ideas into practice the following school year. Passive programming is essentially what you put out for people to engage with - but you don't have to be standing there or directing anything about it while it's happening. It's an invitation to come in and create, which is my favorite thing ever. Mini ContestsI started out with Mini Contests in the library. Full of success with my new 3D printing skills the past spring, I decided to 3D print prizes for various contests we would run in the library - and we would rotate the types of contests, so it could speak to artists or word-o-philes or photographers and builders. When the 3D printer developed a crisis of self in late October, that threw a wrench in our prize plans, but we did have some fun contests worth repeating. In fact, I'd argue that you get more participation when students and staff know what to expect because they've seen examples before. In my previous school district, we had Special Spot Photo Contests each year, where families took photos of students reading books related to their environment. For example, a family on vacation to the Grand Canyon might submit a photo of a student reading a book about the Grand Canyon, or a student reading a book about butterflies might be photographed in her back yard. I shifted that to a Literary Pets Photo Contest in the fall, where students submitted pictures of their pets "reading" books. I added all the pictures to a Google Form and invited staff members to vote for their favorites, and then I 3D-printed an articulated octopus and some stackable cats and a flexi dog for our top three prize winners.
We ran a book-themed tissue box contest, but we didn't get a lot of entries. This might have been better suited for elementary students, or more successful if I already had the tissue boxes available to decorate at a station.
We also had a sticky-note waffle drawing contest - an idea I got from the TLA presenters (above). I added each new entry to the display as they came in, which encouraged more students and staff members to create their own. I had my student Library Aides vote for their favorites, and then (since we had a tie), I asked a few regular student library visitors to add their votes to the mix. We 3D printed some waffle prizes for those winners, too.
We were going to have a Word Invention Contest and a Spooky Story Contest and more, but we had a giant jam in the 3D printer that paused our prize-making for a while, and then November through May was pretty much a blur, so we never got back to the contest thing. Lots of goals for next year, though! Activity StationsI love STEAM and maker mindsets and having lots of options for creating in the library. However, some materials are really messy and need some supervision, so I can't have them out all the time unless I want to spend most of my time cleaning them up afterward (which I do not). Still, there are lots of activities we can have out in the library to engage students that don't require direct supervision or assistance. I found that when I vary what I have out, it keeps it fresh and interesting for students and it doesn't clutter the space so we continue to have lots of room for library lessons and visits. Some of the passive programming stations I've had out this year include:
I save some of the more complicated materials, like jewelry making, crochet, washi tape, calligraphy, button making, Shrinky Dinks, and Perler beads for designated Maker Days, when I have time to pull all the materials out and supervise them for the day.
Resources: Maker Mindsets - a Rationale for Reluctant Teachers Introducing a Maker Mindset to Students - Beginning of the Year Activity Hosting a Schoolwide Maker Day - Elementary Picture Books with Maker Mindsets
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While I have been an advocate for STEAM instruction and Maker Mindsets for years, I have my middle school library colleague Jacqui Isser to thank for this particular model. Jacqui maintains a really gorgeous library newsletter she creates in Smore, and attentive student readers of the library newsletter will pay attention to upcoming Maker Days and check in with her to get passes to attend. I offer a lot of building and arts activities for students on a regular basis through passive programming stations, but my Maker Days offer a little something extra. Here's how I set it up: I schedule Maker Days about once a quarter, on Fridays. I would like to offer them more often, but our school calendar is really packed and it becomes challenging to find a time when there isn't an assembly or field trip or other conflict that would keep a lot of students from attending. I advertise upcoming Maker Days to my Library Club students first, with information at the club meeting and in their Club Google Classroom. Then I'll add signage in the library so that regular library visitors know it's coming. I print passes in advance, and students can pick up passes starting the Monday before the Maker Day (they tend to lose them if I give them out any sooner). Students are able to leave any class with teacher permission AND bring one friend from that same class. They need to have their class work complete to attend, and they can stay for 20 - 40 minutes (at the classroom teacher's discretion). I try to schedule Maker Days so they are near the end of a six-week grading cycle - that last day the testing and review is finished, but some students are needing to make up work to turn in, so the teacher isn't starting new content yet. This allows students to attend Maker Day without missing class content. Our school day has eight periods, so my passes say students can attend at any time between 2nd and 7th periods. That gives me all of 1st period to drag out all the materials, and all of 8th period to put it all away. I teach library lessons, but I have a flexible schedule, so I clear everything else on Maker Days so I can supervise, replenish materials, iron Perler bead projects, and so forth throughout the day.
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 Supplies - including fabric glue, fabric pens and paint, thread, fabric markers, and scissors |  Pre-cut book spine fabric |
 Samples created in advance so students could get the idea |  |  Library Club students selecting materials for their book spines |
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The Next Round
If you didn't gasp when you read "7 feet long," above, you may still appreciate how many book spines that's going to take to fill the space. It was clear pretty early on that viewers will not really be able to see the finer details of these book spines when they're hanging high up in the space, but we'll know they're there. In any case, it was clear I'd need more content, and this project was too complex to leave out as an ongoing unsupervised station, so I got some help.
I have some creative, artistic library aides who were willing to create some additional pieces, including a plant and a cat to sit on the bookshelf ends.
I also reached out to staff members - especially colleagues who regularly collaborate with library programs - as well as parent volunteers - to invite them to contribute book spines and squares to the project.
And I connected with our fantastic art teacher, who brought two of her classes in for two sessions each to help create some squares for us. This brought some really beautiful artistic work, but not all of these students were avid readers, so their ideas for books reached back to their elementary years, and we ended up with some book cover squares that we don't actually have in our library. We decided this was fine, especially since the art was so impressive! The art students, unlike the library club students, also tended to re-create real book covers, instead of creating their own interpretations of the books. Again, this worked out fine, but it was an interesting trend I didn't expect.
I have some creative, artistic library aides who were willing to create some additional pieces, including a plant and a cat to sit on the bookshelf ends.
I also reached out to staff members - especially colleagues who regularly collaborate with library programs - as well as parent volunteers - to invite them to contribute book spines and squares to the project.
And I connected with our fantastic art teacher, who brought two of her classes in for two sessions each to help create some squares for us. This brought some really beautiful artistic work, but not all of these students were avid readers, so their ideas for books reached back to their elementary years, and we ended up with some book cover squares that we don't actually have in our library. We decided this was fine, especially since the art was so impressive! The art students, unlike the library club students, also tended to re-create real book covers, instead of creating their own interpretations of the books. Again, this worked out fine, but it was an interesting trend I didn't expect.
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Yet to Be Written . . .
We still have more book spines to go, and the entire mathematical calculation, arrangement, sewing, and assembly of the project to go, but I love having student-created work living in our space, and I can't wait to see the finished product!
For a long time, I've been 3D printer-adjacent; I've been fortunate to work alongside instructional technology and STEAM personnel on campuses, so I knew what 3D printers could do and encouraged students to use 3D printing as independent project formats, but I hadn't managed the machines or designs myself. I started at a new campus this year, and I knew I didn't want the brand new 3D printer to be sitting in a closet, so I went to some hands-on training, built a lesson, and jumped in with both feet. I hope this post can offer some tips and learning to others out there in similar situations!
The Lesson
I worked with 15 different 8th grade ELA classes in the library - about half were advanced, and half were "on level." There were about 20 - 30 students per class, and I have nine tables with 4 chairs each in the teaching/presentation area of my library.
I started with a read-aloud that was only loosely connected to monsters (I'll take any excuse to share a fun picture book): Alex Willan's Unicorns Are the Worst. The text talks about some characteristics of unicorns, as well as goblins and dragons, so we would be focusing on designing our own original monsters.
I worked with 15 different 8th grade ELA classes in the library - about half were advanced, and half were "on level." There were about 20 - 30 students per class, and I have nine tables with 4 chairs each in the teaching/presentation area of my library.
I started with a read-aloud that was only loosely connected to monsters (I'll take any excuse to share a fun picture book): Alex Willan's Unicorns Are the Worst. The text talks about some characteristics of unicorns, as well as goblins and dragons, so we would be focusing on designing our own original monsters.
As the former librarian at an elementary STEAM campus, I was always looking for useful read-aloud books to highlight books that illustrate creativity productivity. Whether it's the idea generation or research stage, building and refining prototypes, collaborating and exchanging feedback, or persisting in the face of struggles, there are a lot of skills involved with STEAM education and makerspaces. Here are a few titles that might be useful for classrooms, campuses, and families who want to explore maker concepts.
Boxitects by Kim Smith
Everyone who's ever known the joy of a group project can connect to this story, especially if you're a big ideas person who likes to be in charge. When you already have a vision about what something will look like, it can be hard to acknowledge other good ideas, much less incorporate them into your own work. This story respects and names this reality so that when team conflicts arise, participants can refer back to the story discussion for solutions and strategies.
Everyone who's ever known the joy of a group project can connect to this story, especially if you're a big ideas person who likes to be in charge. When you already have a vision about what something will look like, it can be hard to acknowledge other good ideas, much less incorporate them into your own work. This story respects and names this reality so that when team conflicts arise, participants can refer back to the story discussion for solutions and strategies.
Pine and Boof Blast Off by Ross Burach
A celebration of imagination and making that is sure to appeal to young students - and more than a few older ones, too.
If you like Pine and Boof, there are more books in this series. And if you teach K-4 kids and haven't done any read-alouds by Ross Burach, run to your nearest library for guaranteed laughs.
A celebration of imagination and making that is sure to appeal to young students - and more than a few older ones, too.
If you like Pine and Boof, there are more books in this series. And if you teach K-4 kids and haven't done any read-alouds by Ross Burach, run to your nearest library for guaranteed laughs.
Be a Maker by Katey Howes
The whole book is an invitation to engage in the creative process. It might be particularly helpful to read before brainstorming possible projects or building ideas.
The whole book is an invitation to engage in the creative process. It might be particularly helpful to read before brainstorming possible projects or building ideas.
Made by Maxine by Ruth Spiro
Maxine is shown trying invent something that will allow her pet goldfish to participate in the pet parade. Her persistence and clever re-purposing of recycled objects offer plenty of inspiration for additional projects.
Maxine is shown trying invent something that will allow her pet goldfish to participate in the pet parade. Her persistence and clever re-purposing of recycled objects offer plenty of inspiration for additional projects.
Jamie Wright
I've had the privilege of working with hundreds of students and families in IA, CT, NC, MO, TX, and Canada. I love being a teacher-librarian!
My previous roles have included preK - 12 music, K-8 gifted and talented, K-8 creative writing, and 5th grade general education. I love reading, writing, travel, and quirky ideas.
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