GA + Paige & Paxton STEM Make-a-thon | Chicago

About this event

Paige & Paxton Make-a-thons are fun, intentionally crafted experiences featuring 3 to 4 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) challenges for kids, ages 4 to 7, based on characters and storylines from the Paige & Paxton children's book series.

How it works: Children are exposed to some of the best and brightest minds in STEM for a day that they surely won’t forget. Children engage in 3-4 problem-solving experiences that feature the characters Paige & Paxton. Experiences are led by STEM and education experts and will range from the basis of technology and design to paleontology to civil engineering.

Why should a kid attend? - Get to make a lot of cool stuff - Don’t have to sit in your seat or be quiet - Get to make a mess and even mess up without getting in trouble - Get a kit to take home to make more cool stuff - Leave with some new answers to the question that adults keep nagging you about, like "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Where did the concept come from? The concept of the Make-a-thon derives from the do-it-your-self spirit of the “maker’s movement” and Silicon Valley hackathons. Here the term "hack" is used in the sense of playful, exploratory programming, not its alternate meaning as a reference to computer crime. The foundation of both movements is showing the power of creativity and collaboration to solve pressing problems in our society. While Make-a-thons typically consist of adult professionals across an array of technical and artistic industries, this model is rarely applied to students as young as 4 years old.

We believe in the power of children: We know that young children already think scientifically and have an engineering mindset. They are constantly investigating how the world works and are active problem solvers. We believe in the power of establishing a foundation of STEM learning by building upon the strength that young children already bring to the table.

Who else participates? - STEM practitioners lead the station projects and guide the kids through the scientific and engineering design processes - Classroom helpers lend a helping hand with the kids and projects and leave with new ideas and approaches to implement in their classrooms immediately - Parents come with their children, stay for the experience and leave with increased awareness and appreciation of STEM at the early elementary education level

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to us at events@paigeandpaxton.com.

Prereqs & Preparation

• Be a kid, ages 4-7
• Like to make things
• Want to learn new things and new ways of doing things
• Willing to make a mess
• Have made at least one mistake in their lifetime
• Willing to learn and share with other kids