A Makerspace is a place where students can gather to invent, tinker and develop solutions to problems using the creative process of an engineer. Elementary fiction abounds with problems that characters face…so why not connect the two ideas in the classroom? This workshop will immerse teachers in instructional strategies for developing a makerspace in your class and present numerous examples of elementary fiction texts where students are able to use their STEM-relavant skills to design solutions character's problems. Connections to Common Core, NGSS and 21st Century skills will be explicitly addressed, and teachers will have time to collaborate and plan with STEM staff support.