Bring learning to life with hands-on, project-based experiences.

We design makerspaces, develop lesson plans, and train educators to help students discover the joy of learning through making!

What We Believe

Empowering students through active learning.

At 1st Maker Space, we believe learning sticks when students roll up their sleeves and dive in. Our mission is to empower students through spaces, tools, and opportunities that spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills that last a lifetime.

What We Do

Makerspaces, professional development, and lesson plans for educators and change makers.

Makerspaces

Custom spaces designed to spark creativity, collaboration, and discovery.

Professional Development

Training that equips educators with tools, confidence, and teaching strategies.

Free Lesson Plans

Ready-to-use, hands-on activities that inspire learning through making.

Makerspaces Matter

Learning that lasts a lifetime.

Today’s students can look up any answer online, but real learning happens through experience. Makerspaces bridge the gap between knowing and doing by giving students a place to experiment, create, and grow. They build confidence, encourage collaboration, and prepare students with skills that matter for tomorrow’s careers.

More about 1st Maker Space:

Professional Development

Spark Creativity This Summer: Join Our Free Virtual Makerspace PD Series

This summer, 1st Maker Space is offering four free, one-hour virtual PD sessions designed to inspire hands-on learning and introduce educators to tools like AI, robotics, and digital fabrication. Each session provides practical strategies, ready-to-use resources, and engaging ideas that can be immediately implemented in classrooms or makerspaces.

Insights & Research

Starting a Makerspace: Advice from the Field

Starting or growing a makerspace can feel overwhelming, but it does not have to be. In our latest blog, educator Adam Leutenegger shares 10 practical tips from the field to help schools build meaningful, sustainable makerspaces. From starting small to building a strong maker culture, this is a must-read for anyone looking to bring hands-on learning to their students.

Makerspaces

Building Career Pathways Through Hands-On Learning at West Side Leadership Academy

West Side Leadership Academy in Gary, Indiana is transforming learning through a dynamic makerspace that gives high school students access to hands-on STEM experiences and real-world problem solving. As the only high school in the Gary Community School Corporation, the school serves grades 9 through 12 and offers students opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and the arts in meaningful, career-connected ways.