MakerPlay Items

The MakerPlay items are available to request from NHSL Circulation. They can be reached at 603-271-2616. 

This kit provides librarians with a few fun tools to create their own escape rooms. The kit is not plug-and-play. Part of the fun is thinking up puzzles for the game!

Cipher Wheel

The cipher wheel has two parts and each part can be hidden or locked away separately. One part displays the alphabet and the other part shows numbers 1 through 26. When a players lines up a specific number with a specific letter, a code of numbers can be deciphered into letters/words and vice versa.

Ideas

• Letters can be found that provide numbers to open a padlock.
• Letters can be found that provide numbers to find a book by call number.
• The first letters of a book title can be used to provide numbers.
• Numbers can be found that provide letters that spell out a title, and wait for it, the title could be used in the card catalog where a special note was attached to the MARC records, giving them another clue.

Black Light & Invisible Ink Pen

• Use the pen to give “invisible” clues to be found when the players find the black light.

Other Items in Kit

• Wooden objects (letters, numbers, tags, round disks, etc.) to use as clues.
• A few international postcards and old fashioned photos to use as clues.
• Padlocks
• Metal box for locking

Keva planks are blocks used for building. 

Photo courtesy of Goodwin Library. 

Magformers are magnetic shapes used to build awesome structures. This would be great toy for passive, walk-in programming or as an additional toy for your LEGO group members.

Hint: If you are following a design, lay all of the pieces out and then grab a center piece and lift upwards to build the object. (Let gravity do the work for you instead of trying to lift each row of pieces upward.)

Download Idea Booklets:
http://www.magformers.com/idea-booklets.html

Visit the Magformers website for more instructions and videos:
http://www.magformers.com/gallery.html

Photo courtesy of Cook Memorial Library. 

Gears! Gears! Gears! 

Photo courtesy of Nesmith Library.

This is a large play center for toddlers. Note that it is quite large and libraries should try to make arrangement to get the toy from NHSL or from another library. 

Photo courtesy of Gorham Public Library.

Brain Flakes are small disks that connect together to build three-dimensional objects. The parts require some strength to snap together and even more to pull apart. Each kit contains 500 flakes and multiple children should be able to play at once. 

The Qubits allow kids to think about building in a different way. The pieces are a little difficult to snap together and would definitely be a better fit for older children with stronger hands.

Design Examples:
http://www.qubitstoy.com/pages/examples