Innovation in Action: Ozark Junior High’s Makery Club Sparks Creativity

At Ozark Junior High, there is a place where creativity knows no bounds, where students step outside their comfort zone and collaborate with each other to explore the unknown. That place is the Makery Club. 

The Makery Club, now in its fifth year, meets Tuesdays after school and offers students an opportunity to explore, experiment and express themselves through hands-on projects ranging from traditional crafts to more cutting-edge technology.

Club sponsor and OJH media specialist Abby Wright said the Makery Club is all about giving students a chance to try something new. 

“Makery just gives students an opportunity to explore and try a variety of things,” she said. “Whether it’s crafts and painting, sewing, crocheting, and knitting, all the way up to 3D printing and some robotics, it’s just an opportunity for students to come and try something different.”

Each week, students can choose to work on something completely new, allowing them to dive into a wide range of creative outlets. Wright loves seeing students push past their comfort zones. 

“They aren’t afraid to try things, and they aren’t afraid to make mistakes and try again,” she said. “It’s just really fun to watch them be creative, and get excited about trying something they haven’t done before.”

The variety of projects that come out of the Makery Club is impressive and memorable not only for students, but for staff as well. 

Wright said some of the club’s most memorable creations include 3D-printed rocktopuses — figurines featuring the head of actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with movable octopus tentacles — a favorite among last year’s members. 

This year, students have worked on everything from popsicle stick structures to robotics and even a “banana piano” which consists of a piano computer program and bananas attached to sensors allowing them to act like piano keys. 

OJH seventh-grader Oscar Coleman lists the banana piano as one of his favorite projects, alongside origami creations, but his favorite part of the club is spending time with his classmates. 

“I love just getting to hang out with my friends,” he said. “It’s just a fun thing to come and do after school.”

Kylie Martin, OJH seventh grader, finds joy in the creative freedom and the friendships she’s made, both leading to some pretty funny creations. 

 “We’re making real-life Angry Birds, just calling it ‘Mildly Annoyed Birds’ so we don’t get sued for copyright,” she said. 

Martin said the project, still in progress, has resulted in a few unexpected misfires, but that’s all part of the fun. 

Just like the projects the members make, the Makery Club continues to evolve, thanks to grants that allow for new equipment and materials. 

“We’ve written a few grants that have allowed us to add more equipment,” Wright said. “We now have two 3D printers, some 3D pens, and some robotic components.”

Students also get to play a role in shaping the club’s future, helping decide how funds get spent and what kinds of technology to invest in. 

“I usually ask the kids, ‘What is it that you would like to try?’” Wright said. “‘What would you like me to get?’”

For students hesitant about joining, Coleman and Martin both have the same advice: just give it a try. 

“There’s not a lot of negative to it,” Coleman said. “It’s a fun club to be a part of.” 

Martin emphasized the club’s welcoming environment. 

“It’s just a place to let loose and create,” she said. “A place to do stuff and make friends.”