Maker's Lab : A Modular Makerspace
Homeschool Program for Grades 3-5
Level: Grades 3-5 | Length: 8 Weeks | Day: Monday
Maker's Lab is a co-operative hands-on, exploratory makerspace program designed especially for homeschool families with upper elementary school students. This unique two-hour session combines the freedom of an open studio with the richness of guided activities, offering kids a chance to create, build, experiment, and collaborate every week.
Each session features multiple activity stations spanning art, engineering, science, and logic, allowing students to rotate at their own pace or spend focused time diving deep into a favorite project. Parents stay on-site, forming their own vibrant community, while kids gain independence, confidence, and meaningful friendships.
Each 8 week Course will have different projects or stations.
What Students Will Do
During each two-hour block, participants can explore a wide range of rotating stations such as:
🎨 Studio Art Station: Work with acrylics, watercolor, charcoal, collage, and mixed media. Learn new techniques or experiment freely on individual or collaborative canvases.
🧱 Builders’ Table: Tackle weekly LEGO engineering challenges, construct marble runs, or build structural models using everyday materials.
🧪 STEAM Lab: Dive into snap circuits, simple coding bots, magnet experiments, or small-scale chemistry demos.
🎲 Strategy & Logic Games: Play chess, Catan, cooperative puzzles, or try designing your own logic games and mazes.
🌱 Nature & Science Exploration: Use microscopes to examine plant slides, sort fossils and rocks, and capture discoveries in nature sketch journals.
Each station is designed to engage critical thinking, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving, meeting kids right at their age and interest level.
How the Program Works
Duration: 2 hours per week
Schedule: Flexible drop-in style within the time block. Kids start at any station, move around as they wish, or stay put for the entire time.
At the end of each session, there’s a short clean-up and an optional “share-out” time where kids can show what they built or discovered.
Who Should Attend
Ages: 8+ (grades 3 thru 5).
Perfect for families with multiple older children or teens who want a space that isn’t dominated by preschool activities.
Ideal for homeschoolers, hybrid or microschool families, and students on flexible online schedules.
What Makes This Special
Choice-based learning: Kids have autonomy to direct their own day.
Multi-age friendly: Older kids mentor younger ones naturally.
No busy work: Every project builds real-world skills in creativity, engineering, and problem-solving.
Community feel: Families connect, friendships blossom, and kids look forward to returning each week.
Your Instructor
Jennifer Garcia
Hello! My name is Jennifer Garcia. I graduated from Bellevue University and spent many years in the tech industry, working as a software engineer for IBM, Alpha Telecom, and Hexagon Public Safety, as well as serving as a contractor for the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. My work took me all over, giving me a broad, global perspective and a deep appreciation for how technology, creativity, and human connection shape our world.
Throughout those years, I was also homeschooling — balancing my professional career while raising and educating my four children. It’s been a journey of more than 20 years, filled with big questions, hands-on projects, and countless kitchen-table lessons. Today, my oldest is a physicist specializing in astrophysics and theoretical physics, a path that began with backyard experiments and a love for learning.
Now, I channel all of that experience into teaching and designing courses that spark curiosity and confidence — from Spanish and creative writing to computer science, math, and immersive STEAM programs. I also serve as president of Timeless Homeschool Events Cullman, creating memorable experiences for teens and families through proms, themed dances, and immersive mystery parties. Additionally, I direct Alabama STEAM Academy, building programs that make education personal, meaningful, and community-driven.
At the heart of it all is my belief that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life. It’s more than academics — it’s about nurturing curiosity, building character, and growing together. I look forward to sharing this incredible learning journey with your family!