As we approach the final stretch of the school year, many teachers find themselves staring down a familiar question: What do I do with my students for the last two weeks? The answer, if you want purpose, engagement, and real-world skills? The Master Maker Build-Off.
This isn’t just a time-filler. It’s a flexible, hands-on design challenge that transforms your classroom into a hub of creativity, problem-solving, and joyful learning.
🔧 What Is the Master Maker Build-Off?
It’s a 10-day, student-centered challenge that empowers learners to choose a project, pitch it, prototype it, and present it. Students become engineers, designers, coders, game developers, or storytellers — all depending on their project choice.
Students can:
- Build mini Rube Goldberg machines
- Design crash test vehicles
- Invent classroom solutions
- Create games that teach a topic
- Build or code imaginary worlds
- Pitch an invention Shark Tank-style
Each project is scaled to fit a meaningful end-of-year timeframe, with structure and accountability built in.
🕒 Designed for Flexibility: Two Class Formats
There are two full versions of the project:
1. For 80-Minute Class Periods:
- Includes extended time for deeper prototyping, iteration, and coding integration
- Ideal for STEM/CTE blocks or electives
- Encourages higher complexity projects and multi-step builds
2. For 45-Minute Class Periods:
- Streamlined version with simplified project scope and faster pacing
- Still hands-on and high-energy, just more focused
- Includes daily deliverables, peer feedback, and a final showcase
Both versions come with:
- Daily lesson plans
- Student packets
- Rubrics
- Planning sheets
- Twist cards to keep things fun
🎯 Why It Works
The Master Maker Build-Off taps into what students really want at the end of the year:
- Choice — They get to pick their path
- Voice — They present, pitch, and reflect
- Hands-on learning — No packets or passive reviews here
- Pride — They end the year as creators, not just consumers
This project also aligns with ISTE and NYS Technology Education Standards and builds real-world problem-solving and communication skills.
🧰 Want the Full Resource Kit?
I’ve put together complete project packets for both time formats — including teacher guides, student assignment sheets, example projects, pacing plans, and more.
If you’re looking to:
- Keep your students engaged in May and June
- End with purpose
- Actually enjoy the final stretch
Then the Master Maker Build-Off is your answer.
Grab the full resource here or message me if you want a walkthrough. Let’s make these last 10 days the most creative ones yet.
Let’s build something that matters.
Disclaimer:
The Master Maker Build-Off is an original project idea developed by me. Portions of this blog post, including formatting, organization, and language, were written with support from ChatGPT to enhance clarity and usability for educators.
