Bridging language barriers and building friendships in the Westminster Woods makerspace
January 18, 2019
GUELPH, Ontario – Students new to Canada have embarked on a fun project, building their language skills and developing friendships along the way.
At Westminster Woods Public School, the Library Learning Commons (LLC) and makerspace has become the centre of an initiative that is growing into a powerful way to create a shared language among students who are learning English.
The project is a great example of how school makerspaces are doing more than just ‘producing things.’ As Teacher-Librarian Sara Furnival said, the international language of making is in full swing in the school’s LLC.
Bashar’s family came to Canada from Syria a few years ago, Ahmad and his family came from Turkey, and Andrew and his family arrived from China this September. All three students are grade 5 English Language Learners at Westminster Woods PS.
The idea for the project started when Andrew and his teacher, Mrs. Lebert, came to the library to ask Ms. Furnival if she had any metal she could spare. Andrew had designed a detailed plan – he wanted to build a robot. It was then that Ahmad and Bashar decided to join in, to help Andrew’s plan come to life.
They have been dissecting electronics to harvest the metal, learning about switches and motors, and using the materials to build the robot.
Working together, the students are demonstrating problem solving and authentic collaboration. The project gives them an opportunity to show their thinking and develop their language skills. Complex ideas are brought to life and the boys work together well. Language barriers are overcome as the students show each other what they mean. This has helped create a shared language around the tools they are using.
Ms. Furnival has created signs to help students develop a shared understanding around making – as they learn new words, they add those terms to their vocabulary worksheets.
The project is very much student-led and has grown organically. Through it, the school’s vision for the makerspace has really come alive. Staff hope to expand the project to other ELL students in the school.
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