Open Play and STEAM Activities at Small Factory

Have you ever given your child a cardboard box with some crayons and watched what happens? His imagination comes to life as he begins to play. To a child, a box can be an airplane, a house or a suit of armor – the sky is the limit. Or perhaps you open Minecraft on the computer and observe what your child builds. It could be a house, a village, a famous piece of architecture; practically anything he can imagine. As he participates in these kinds of open play activities (supervised, unstructured playtime) he is actually learning in so many ways.

Not only does open play give your child cherished memories of growing up, it also allows him or her to develop creativity and imagination. Play also contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of your child. The creative experiences that come from play can help children express and cope with their feelings. Creativity can also foster mental growth in children by providing opportunities for trying out new ideas, and new ways of thinking and problem-solving.

Throughout history, spontaneous free play has been thought to be a fundamental part of growth. The types of open play activities have changed over time, from natural playgrounds and wooden blocks, to electronic devices and STEAM focused activities. More and more schools are beginning to integrate technology and STEAM activities into academics. At Small Factory, we have been offering STEAM activities since our doors opened in 2007.

Small Factory believes that open play should be an integral part of child and teen development. It’s a fact that play is one of our brain’s favorite ways to learn. When children are active participants in their education, they gain more from the experience, are more engaged in the learning process. Small Factory offers several open play programs to children and teens that spark creativity and enable them to become empowered, critical thinkers.

OPEN PLAY PROGRAMS OFFERED AT SMALL FACTORY

Maker Space and Open Studio Membership Program
This program is designed for children who love technology, tinkering, music, and the arts to enjoy unrestricted free time in our Fair Haven studio. Members can use the time to work on projects, develop new ones, or explore new things as they jump from project to project.

- Video Production (use of the studio’s video cameras and equipment)- Stopmotion Animation (create a claymation or pixelation movies)- Animation (for students who want to continue a project or create a new one using skills learned in class)- Cartooning

- Video Game Design (for students who want to continue a project or create a new one using skills learned in class) 3-D Printing (for students who have taken or are currently enrolled in a 3-D Printing class)

- Web based Animation (Scratch), Video Game Design ( code.org) and others

- Music Production (Make songs, develop music and use instruments with our digital audio workstations)

- Weekly STEAM activity (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) such as make your own catapult, make your own flashlight/magic wand/light saber, robotics, and much more.

Members can come and go as much as they please during the below times. Students are welcome to do their homework during Member hours. Ask us about personal tutors and assistance for students working on their college portfolios, if needed. Call 732-212-1088 for more information and/or to register.

DAYS & TIMES

All ages – Monday – Thursday, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

All ages – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ages 13+ – Monday – Thursday 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Ages 13+ – Saturday 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. (perfect time for students looking to build their college portfolio of sample work)

*Summer times during the week will change from 4 to 6pm.

Workshop Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, Small Factory is offering an open play workshop for ages 6+. Workshops are from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per student (members are free). Pre-registration is required. Call 732.212.1088 to register.

We have four workshops scheduled for the month of February:

Week 1 – February 4: Hexbug HackThis week we will be working with mini motors, batteries, wires and toothbrushes to create a copy of the popular ‘Hexbug Nano’ toy.

Week 2 – February 11: Mechanical Arm
This week we will be working with popsicle sticks, rubber bands and cubes to create a mechanical arm. We will practice using it to pick up straws and other objects to make clean up a little easier.

Week 3 – February 18: Magnet Mania
This week we will be creating our very own electromagnet by striping wires and connecting nails and batteries together. We will experiment with how to make our electromagnets stronger.

Week 4 – February 25: Doodle Bot
This week we will be breaking out the drills to build a robot that can color out our CD’s, a mini motor, and markers. How many colors will you choose?

Kids Night Out
Every Friday and Saturday, Small Factory opens its Fair Haven studio for children, ages 5 to 12, to watch movies, play on the computers, and sing and play instruments in the sound booth. These nights are also great opportunities for parents to enjoy a few hours of conversation and a quiet dinner at any one of the award-winning local restaurants. Times and costs are 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.: movies, cartoons, computer, music and social time ($20 per child, $15 sibling rate) or 6:30 – 10:00 p.m.: movies, cartoons, computer, music and social time, and arts pajama party ($30 per child, $25 sibling rate). Pre-registration is required. Please call 732.212.1088.

Minecraft Mania
Every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. is Minecraft Mania at Small Factory. Kids play Minecraft in creative mode while our instructor gives tips and strategies. Cost is $25 per child. Pre-registration required. Please call732.212.1088.

About Small Factory Productions

Small Factory Productions, located at 560 River Road, Suite C in Fair Haven, NJ, helps to build innovative young minds through its children’s arts and technology programs. Small Factory’s instructors have created exciting art programs that meet NJ and NY Core Content Standards for Language Arts, Literacy and Visual and Performing Arts. Students in classes at Small Factory’s production studio and at more than 30 public and private schools across New York and New Jersey have improved, both academically and socially, thanks to Small Factory’s unique curriculum. http://www.smallfactory.com