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The Maker Movement is growing in popularity (see The Best Resources For Learning About The “Maker Movement” — Help Me Find More).

Teachers of English Language Learners have certainly incorporated “maker” strategies for years — for example, I have had students create simple musical instruments (see The Best Sites For Ideas On Making Simple Musical Instruments).

But a post about string telephones by Ana Maria Menezes (shared by Roseli Serra) got me wondering how other teachers of English Language Learners use “maker” strategies with their students.

In case you’re not familiar with The Maker Movement, and don’t feel like going to the previously mentioned “Best” list to learn about it, here’s a simple description form Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez from their book about it:

The best way to activate your classroom is for your students to make something. This might an amazing high-tech invention or it might take the form of costumes for a historical reenactment, homemade math manipulatives, a new curtain for the local auditorium, toys, a pet habitat, a messy science experiment, or a zillion other things. Best of all, you don’t need expensive hardware, or to start by mastering a programming language. You can begin with found materials: buttons, bottle caps, string, clay, construction paper, broken toys, popsicle sticks, or tape (hint: Google “tapigami” or “duck tape projects”).

What are you having your students “make” to help them learn English?

I’ll put all responses into a future post….