Don’t Just Use the World. Build It.
Middle School Makerspace
Makerspace
Funded by the CEF, the CPS After-School Makerspace Program is an innovative, choice-based initiative centered on student interests and individual creativity. Our mission is to provide a dedicated environment where students hone their craft in industrial technologies—including woodworking, robotics, engineering, fiber arts, ceramics, and leatherworking.
We strive to cultivate hands-on expertise while empowering students to envision, design, and execute projects they are passionate about. By encouraging students to take full creative control, we foster an environment of inquiry that develops essential STEAM habits of mind.
Current Program - Spring 2026
Textile Lab
Leatherworking
Ceramics & Clay Arts
Stitch, Mend, Create!
The Art of Visible Mending- Sustainability meets style in our Textile Lab. Students explore traditional hand-sewing techniques, including Sashiko—a beautiful and functional Japanese stitching method. In our relaxed, open-studio setting, makers can:
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Learn to patch and repair favorite garments.
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Personalize gear like backpacks with custom embroidery.
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Upcycle old textiles into entirely new creations.
Ancient Craft, Modern Style
Students dive into a 500-year-old tradition by crafting their own personalized leather shoulder pouches. We are proud to use deer hides sourced locally and tanned by Pergamena, a historic regional tannery. Through cutting, gluing, and hand-stitching, students keep traditional craftsmanship alive while creating something beautiful and durable.
Form, Texture, and Design
No experience is needed—just a willingness to get messy! Students master fundamental handbuilding techniques including pinch, coil, and slab construction. This course encourages students to experiment with the tactile nature of clay to transform raw material into unique, three-dimensional works of art.
Woodworking
LEGO Robotics
Build Your Own World
Safety first! Our woodworking studio teaches the correct usage of hand tools, ensuring students "hammer nails, not fingers." After mastering the basics of drilling, driving screws, and precision cutting by building a custom marble maze, students are given the freedom to design and build a wooden project of their own invention.
Programming the Future
Combining hands-on engineering with digital coding, students use LEGO Spike kits to solve complex missions. Working in teams, our young engineers learn to use sensors and motor functions, fostering critical thinking and teamwork. The course culminates in "Open Invention," where students build and program robots of their own design.
CPS Parent
“My child is taking woodworking and has come home so enthusiastic about the course. Thanks for bringing this to CPS!"
CPS Parent
"It has provided an outlet for my child to relax and let their creativity and messiness flow.."
CPS Parent
“The teacher allowed them to explore more things than a standard curriculum. It was really fun as a result. ”