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Trina Deboree M.Ed. Readers in the Making

👷🏻 Bring Stories to Life! Fairytale-Inspired STEM & Makerspace Ideas for Kids

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

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Issue # 1

Readers in the Making

Hi there, Readers in the Making Family!

Have you ever watched a child’s imagination take off after reading a great story? Maybe they pretended to be Cinderella at the ball, built a wolf-proof house like the Three Little Pigs, or brainstormed how to really help the Gingerbread Man cross the river safely.

That’s the magic of connecting books with hands-on learning—and this week, we’re diving into Fairytale-Inspired STEM & Makerspace Ideas to bring stories to life in a whole new way!

Turning Pages Together

A few years ago, I had a student who loved listening to stories but hated reading them. Then, we read The Three Little Pigs—and instead of just discussing the story, we built our own houses out of different materials.

Suddenly, he was thinking like an engineer—testing materials, making predictions, and even reading more to find new ideas! That’s when I realized how powerful it is to extend stories beyond the page.

Hands-on learning makes books more engaging, meaningful, and unforgettable.

I even created a Makerspace in the media center to bring stories to life and bring children into the space enthusiastically!

And it worked!

That is when Makerspace Moments in Literature was born.

Want to know more about Makerspace Moments in Literature? Check out this blog post:

​How To Develop An Awe-Inspiring Moment for Readers ​

The Reading Spark

📚 Bring Stories to Life with STEM & Makerspace Challenges!

When kids get to build, create, and experiment, they don’t just understand a story—they experience it! Here are two simple ways to mix reading with hands-on discovery:

1️⃣ STEM Challenges Based on Fairytales​
🦊 The Fox & The Grapes – Build a simple machine to help the fox reach the grapes.
🏠 The Three Little Pigs – Engineer a house that can withstand the Big Bad Wolf’s "huff and puff."
🌊 The Gingerbread Man – Design a raft to help him safely cross the river.

2️⃣ Makerspace Extensions​
Encourage kids to create story-inspired inventions, like a glass slipper prototype for Cinderella or a trunk grabber for The Elephant’s Child to explore cause and effect!

Want even more ideas? Join me for this week’s Readers in the Making live show! 🎥👇

This Week's Reading Boost

Book Recommendation: Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying!: The Story of Cinderella as Told by the Wicked Stepmother

A fun, fractured fairytale that gets kids thinking about perspective and point of view!

These books by Trisha Shaskan make teaching point of view so much fun! These are just some of the mentor texts I use inside my six-week Fairytales, Folktales, and Fables Unit. ​

📌 Check it out here! Grab the book​

This Week’s Resource Highlight

Reading Comprehension Passages & Science Integration

Reading and science belong together! My Reading Comprehension Passages & Science Worksheets make it easy to combine ELA and hands-on learning in a meaningful way.

✅ Boosts nonfiction comprehension – Covers main idea, vocabulary, text features, and critical thinking.​
✅ Saves time – Just print and go! Cover science and reading in under 20 minutes.​
✅ Engages all learners – Hands-on experiments & real-world connections.

📌 Check it out here!​

Readers in the Making

📅 Monday at 6:00 PM EST on YouTube & Instagram

🎥 Topic: Bring Stories to Life! Fairytale-Inspired STEM & Makerspace Ideas​
✔️ How hands-on projects boost reading comprehension.
✔️ Fun STEM & Makerspace challenges based on fairytales, folktales, and fables.
✔️ Easy, low-prep activities that blend storytelling and creativity.

🎁 BONUS! Grab your FREE Fairytales, Folktales & Fables Sample Lesson! It includes a sorting activity, lesson plan, and anchor posters.

📌 Tune in live, and let’s make reading an adventure!

Your Turn: Share the Joy!

What’s your favorite fairytale-inspired activity?

Reply to this email or tag me on Instagram @trina_deboree with your best story-based STEM or Makerspace idea!

📌 Bonus! Tag me, and I’ll send you a FREE book list by standards and skills—perfect for finding great reads at your child’s level!

Until We Read Again...

Reading isn’t just about words on a page—it’s about adventure, creativity, and discovery. Let’s help our kids experience stories in a whole new way this week!

Let’s keep reading, building, and imagining together!

Warmly,

Warmly,
Trina

11567 84th Street Circle East, Parrish, FL 34219
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Trina Deboree M.Ed. Readers in the Making

Trina Deboree

Hi, I’m Trina, a former struggling reader turned educator with over 30 years of experience. Through Readers in the Making, I share weekly tips and resources to help parents and “rebel” teachers inspire a lifelong love for books in kids. My goal? To make reading joyful, accessible, and empowering for all young readers. Join our community to get practical tips, engaging resources, and a little extra inspiration each week! 📚

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