By Kris Tomes, Senior Digital Product Manager

This January, we launched a brand new database of hands-on projects, experiments, crafts, and recipes for makers of varying skill levels! Lerner Maker Lab is our new offering for grades 2-5, with over 500 projects and growing. Each easy-to-follow project guides readers with step-by-step instructions and images. Lerner Maker Lab is perfect for makerspaces, libraries without makerspaces, at-home use, and anywhere kids want to roll their sleeves up and get creative!

Lerner Maker Lab Quick Links:

Take a look at our demo video
Sign up for a free 2-week trial
Learn more about our Editorial Philosophy
Check out our FAQS
Connect with our Customer Service team on pricing

Without further ado, let’s take a deeper dive into the Lerner Maker Lab!

Kid-Friendly Interface & Tools

The Lerner Maker Lab was designed specifically for grades 2-5, with an easy-to-use, age-appropriate interface. Accessible via computers and tablets, the home page displays featured projects to encourage browsing and discovery.

Students can navigate to their preferred category by clicking on one of the category icons: Craft, Build, Experiment, Eat, Celebrate! Breadcrumbs appear once students leave the home page, and are hyperlinked so students can easily find their way back to where they started.

Students can also type project names into the search bar, which has fuzzy logic to catch misspellings. The search bar can also be used to search for a specific material, with search results listing projects that use that material.

Projects begin with a short intro called “What You’re Making” to introduce the project. Some projects include sidebars that provide dietary notes, STEM takeaways, or related projects.

Next, the projects include a supplies list called “What You’ll Need.” These are all the materials, tools, and ingredients readers will need to make the project.

Recipes also include an additional section that lists servings, preparation time, and baking time, so you can plan accordingly.

The “How to Make It” section includes stages and steps that are clearly defined by headers and alternating background colors. Steps are paired with images to help users follow along.

Steps that require adult assistance are marked with a friendly explanation point and an “Ask an adult for help” note.

Projects conclude with a carousel of recommended projects that have something in common with the current project. This encourages discovery and interconnectivity.

Handy Admin Tools

Lerner Maker Lab also comes with helpful Admin tools that allow staff to review the most popular projects, how often projects are read, and the number of logins.

Student Privacy, Accessibility, and Curricular Connections

Lerner Maker Lab does not track individual students. All usage statistics used in the Admin tools are based on the common user credentials. Plus, authenticated URLs means students never have to enter credentials, and can access the database from school or home.

Lerner Maker Lab adheres to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, 2.0, and 2.1, and is designed to be accessible to students with disabilities using assistive technologies. The database is also compatible with text-to-speech, enhanced text visibility, and Google Translate programs to ensure all learners can read and succeed.