By Clair Mays
Arkadelphia Public Schools
There is a new and exciting space this spring in the Peake Media Center. In the Fall of 2021, Peake Fifth Grade Teacher April Grace applied for and was awarded a Ross Mini-Grant through Dawson. This grant provided funding for the resources needed to install a Makerspace area in the Peake Elementary School Library.
A Makerspace is a collaborative STEM-based learning environment where students gather to create DIY projects, explore STEM activities, invent new things, and share ideas. Peake Media Specialist Charlotte DeWitt designed the area. Now, during students’ weekly visits to the library, they have the opportunity to not only enrich their literacy skills but also strengthen their understanding and interest in STEM-based learning.
DeWitt has developed a rotation for students that involves stations. Each station has either…
