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The Power of Toy Making: How Simple Activities Create Profound Learning Moments
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by Rick Hartman, Founder and Head Toymaker, School of Toy
Sponsored by School of Toy
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
For many educators, October can feel like a slump. Back-to-school enthusiasm has waned, patience for challenging behaviors wears thin, and the holiday break seems impossibly far away. And if you’re feeling it, chances are your students are too.
Don’t worry—help is on the way! Join teacher-turned-toymaker Rick Hartman as he dives into the world of hands-on toy-building workshops. Discover how these simple activities can transform your classroom into a joyful space where every student becomes an empowered inventor. In this edWebinar, you learn how to:
- Use basic materials to create activities that enhance learning for all students while reinforcing STEM/STEAM skills
- Shift from the traditional “sage on the stage” role to becoming a “guide on the side,” allowing students to shine in new ways
- Give students opportunities to showcase talents and abilities that might go unnoticed in traditional lessons, revealing hidden gifts and potential
- Build a collaborative, fun, and inclusive environment that sparks curiosity and fosters teamwork
Kick the October blues to the curb and join Rick for a professional learning experience unlike any other. You won’t want to miss it! This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-8 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenter
Rick “Mister Toymaker” Hartman is a former teacher and professional toy inventor who started building toys with kids in 1994 as part of an after-school arts program. What began with a small group of children blossomed into School of Toy. Soon, Mister Toymaker was building toys with kids at the Smithsonian Institute and appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Discovery Channel. Today, over a million students have attended Rick’s workshops in more than 6,000 school visits across the U.S. In 2020, School of Toy launched its first series of on-demand workshops to support teachers nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. These virtual workshops caught on, and the rest is history.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the STEM Learning community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
For over 25 years, “Mister Toymaker,” Rick Hartman, has taught kids to build their own amazing toys that spark the imagination and bring learning to life. Today, School of Toy’s on-demand workshops allow classrooms everywhere to experience the educational magic that happens when “Mister Toymaker” teaches students how to use the simplest of materials and their own imaginations to create toys jam-packed with learning, laughter and fun!
