Star Wars Maker Lab

by Liz Lee Heinecke, Cole Horton

Ever wanted to move things without touching them like a Jedi can? Or grow your own kyber crystal? Or maybe explode a balloon with a beam of energy, just like the Death Star? Now you can!

With 20 amazing projects, Star Wars™ Maker Lab teaches your budding Padawan how to become a Master of science, in both the real world and the Star Wars galaxy. Using clear step-by-step instructions, the book guides home scientists and makers through each exciting experiment–from making Jabba's gooey slime or a hovering landspeeder, to an Ewok catapult and a glowing Gungan Globe of Peace. Each experiment has fact-filled panels to explain the real-world science as well as the Star Wars science fiction from the movies.

With projects that are out of this world, this fantastic Star Wars book can keep children entertained for hours, making use of many household items such as cardboard tubes, baking soda, cornstarch, straws, balloons, and food coloring. There is also plenty to keep more adventurous scientists enthralled, with instructions to make your own bristlebot mouse droid, lightsaber duel, and Mustafar volcano. Star Wars Maker Lab supports STREAM topics and helps children to learn the basics of science by traveling through the Star Wars galaxy. May the (static) Force be with you!

Genres: Star Wars, Childrens, Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Middle Grade, Stem

128 pages, Hardcover

Published July 3, 2018

Reviews

[NayDoubleU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book.
A great way to bring STEM to a star wars lover near year. I also appreciate the easy to follow instructions, visuals and the level of difficulty bei g displayed

[Maxwell L · Rating 3 out of 5]

With DIY things like a Death Star or magnet Millenium Falcon, or egg planets, this book has the build instructions for (a ramshackle version of) everything in the Star Wars universe. It was okay, but I think it focuses too much on the materials and minute details of design instead of conveying the broader picture of what it is supposed to look like. Good book though.

[Christiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big ups to gliding speeder, ewok catapults, death star superlasers, R2-D2 holoprojectors, and super speeder bikes.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have a rainy day to and want to craft? But want to indulge your inner geek? Or are you looking to illustrate scientific principles via Star Wars-themed makes? Then this volume is for you!

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some cute projects in here for kids. I like that each project has a difficulty rating. I also like that the science of the projects is explained.
Definitely some fun projects for Star Wars fans.

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like star wars

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best true book about Star Wars ever!!!!!!! Love the facts!!!!!!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a great job of taking S.T.E.A.M. based ideas and spinning them into Star Wars theme projects! BRILLIANT!
There's Lasers, and Projectors, making Kyber Crystals, Jabba Slime, making Droids, Speed Bikes and Podracers, a Snow globe of Hoth, lightsaber battles in WATER, Galactic planetary egg dyeing, Mustafar Volcano, Anakin's robotic arm, Ewok Catapult, and More!
Of the 20 activities, only 7 of them aren't budget friendly (if you're doing it for a classroom or a library program), but they do a great job of showing the budget, supplies, step-by-step photos included of each project, time commitment (the 7 I mention, for me at least, are ones that either require special supplies and at least 2-3 days to complete (which works for homeschool families or families who want to try stuff at home), and further advice.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audience: grades 2-8
Curriculum Connections: science, experiments, Star Wars, crafts

Text Features: table of contents (pictorial), safety tips, page numbers, notes (3) levels of difficulty, step by step pictures, stencils, glossary

Many of these projects require adult supervision and assistance. What a great opportunity to have some family time!

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great resource for incorporating Star Wars and STEAM into your activities! It had a wide variety of projects including space vehicles, robots, instruments, planets, and a lot lot more! It also rates the projects on an easy, medium, and hard scale. There are templates for some of the projects in the back as well. Highly recommend for any Star Wars day activities!

[Helena]

Olisin tosi kovasti halunnut, että tämä kirja olisi hyvä ja innostava. Osa projekteista olikin kivoja, mutta monet olivat tosi vaikeita ja monimutkaisia. Monimutkaisuus tuntui syntyvän erityisesti siitä, että projekteissa pyritään jäljittelemään tosi tarkkaan Star Wars -maailman ulkonäköä (mikä tuottaa hirveän määrän pahvikaavoja ja rävellystä) tai yritetään keksimällä keksiä, miten jonkun Star Wars -hahmon tai -esineen saisi askarreltua kotona. Ehkä joku insinöörilapsi jaksaa pakertaa, mutta suurimmalle osalle ohjeet lienevät lannistavia tai sitten sellaisia, joita katsellaan kirjasta ilman aikomusta oikeasti toteuttaa niitä. Yksinkertaisimmat ideat tuntuivat toimivan parhaiten, esimerkiksi valomiekkataistelu suuntaamalla minitaskulampun valokeila värillisen sellofaanin läpi sameaan nesteeseen vaikutti tosi hauskalta.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

20 Star Wars themed maker projects, ranging from simple to complex. I will definitely be using several of these for future library programming. I particularly liked the light saber duel, Jabba slime, galactic planets, busy worker droids, balloon hovercrafts, invisible force, interstellar instruments, and wampa snow globe projects.