Avonworth Participates in Maker Faire Pittsburgh

The inaugural Maker Faire Pittsburgh (www.makerfairepittsburgh.com) was held Oct 10-11, 2015, at the grounds outside the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, and Avonworth had a major presence. Mrs. Maureen Frew, Kindergarten Teacher, led a group of kindergartners and first graders in an active "Drawing Bots" exhibit that had faire goers creating circular designs with markers attached to a compact disc that were powered through the vibration of a battery toothbrush. Avonworth Middle School exhibited its 7th grade Invention and Design Lab course, and Avonworth High School displayed artifacts from the Pittsburgh Galleries Project.

Avonworth has purposefully integrated making into the K-12 culture. Throughout all grade levels, students have opportunities to tinker, design and invent, using anything from cardboard to screwdrivers, to sewing machines to 3D-printers. In working with this initiative, Avonworth has had a special partnership with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's Makeshop. The museum has assisted in professional development of our staff and in consulting with the development of our maker spaces. Avonworth is one of the few school districts in the region that has a maker space in each of its buildings. Through the Ohio River Consortium, Avonworth has been able to complete our Elementary maker space, as well as enhance the Primary Center's maker space.