Portable Makerspace Supply Cart

A robust Makerspace will enhance maker-centered, hands-on, design-thinking learning for students of all ages, but if space or money is an issue, think about creating a portable makerspace supply cart. This makerspace cart is made from materials that are easily available. It is designed to be portable but stable so you can move it from place to place without having things falling out. It is also modular so you can organize materials of different sizes. Lastly, it's designed to be visible so students can use recognition and not recall to return supplies to the right place.

You will need the following materials:

- A utility cart

- 4 one inch, three-ring binders

- 8 large binder clips

- various small binder clips

- plastic cups

- 12 cardboard tubes (each 3.5 inch diameter x 6 inches high)

- 4 cardboard boxes (18 x 13 x 12)

- Various sized paper bags

- desired makerspace and building materials

Clip together the three tubes using two large binder clips. The holes of the tubes will be where the binder rings of the binder fit.

Repeat until you have four sets of bound cardboard tubes, two for the top shelve and two for the bottom shelve.

Place the binders with the rings into the each hole. They should rest like the picture above.

Adjust the binder so that they can fit the cardboard boxes. Add the boxes on top so that they sit on top of the binder and use the binder as support structures. As weight is added to the cardboard boxes, the weight will shift inwards and can be easily transported without fear of the boxes falling over the edge of the cart.

Using paper bags and binder clips, create compartments so that different supplies can be organized and grouped together. Do this for every box.

Using binder clips attached plastic cups as extra holders of materials. These holders are good for small items such as rubber bands, sticks, straws, etc.

Use the space between the boxes on the bottom shelve to rest large or lengthy items such as wooden dowels and tubings.

Go wild, fill in compartments with supplies that can be reused, repurposed, and reimagined. Paint your cart. Make it yours.