Great Expectations School (GES) in Grand Marais has been granted $10,000 from the Northland Foundation to create a “Mobile Makerspace.” GES is a public charter school that serves K-8th graders.
The GES announcement of the grant said, “Thanks to the generous support of the Northland Foundation, students will now have even more opportunities to explore, create, and innovate right from the palm of their hands!”
Makerspaces are often found in schools, public libraries, and other community locations. They are most often collaborative workshops where people meet, learn new technologies, and share their creative interests. In schools, Makerspaces offer exploration, participatory learning, and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Nathan Fell, the Science teacher at GES who will administer the grant, is excited to get the Makerspace up and running for the new school year in the new school building. Under construction on the existing GES campus, the new building offers seven classrooms, a second-floor common area, and a new kitchen and lunchroom.
This school year is Fell’s first at GES, but he has taught middle-school-level science and math in diverse environments from Fergus Falls and St. Paul, MN, to New Orleans, LA.
“The real currency for a teacher isn’t the paycheck,” he said. “It’s seeing the look on the face of that kid who has been banging their head against the wall to understand a concept when they finally get it.”
The GES Makerspaces will be on several carts that Fell will build and equip over the summer break. Each cart will contain grade-appropriate tools and supplies curated by Fell, along with proposed curriculum guidance for the teachers using them.
The curriculum for Makerspace follows Minnesota Department of Education science standards.
Fell finds the GES environment different from other schools he’s worked at. “GES has parent involvement in spades,” he said.
Krista Olson, a school mom, prepared and shepherded the grant application for Fell. According to the grantor’s website, “The Northland Foundation supports Northeast Minnesota people and communities working toward a future where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.”
The Makerspace concept teaches students basic mechanics. They manipulate tools and materials to create what they envision, and they learn how to fail and start again.
“It’s about learning from mistakes,” Fell said. “All kids have grit and determination but sometimes quit too soon. They haven’t had enough experience yet.”
Fell hopes to include the broader community in the Makerspace program over time. He’s approachable, friendly, and obviously committed to helping students.
Fell’s wife, Heidi, grew up in Tofte and graduated from Cook County High School. He described moving here from New Orleans and said, “We both said this was our last move. If there’s a next move, it’ll be feet first.”
The school’s announcement has the last word. “With this grant, we can’t wait to bring hands-on learning experiences to every corner of our school. From robotics to art projects, our Mobile Makerspace will spark curiosity and ignite imaginations.”
