Third Stop
Workshop at Opaltorgets Bibliotek · February 2026
Workshop Leaders: Leila Natsheh and Simona Cavalieri
Workshop Assistant: Camilla Uhlén
Workshop Assistant: Camilla Uhlén
Photo: Camilla Uhlén
"Do we need a map in the control panel?" — Simona
"Nope." — M, 8
"What do we need to complete this spaceship?" we asked, as the children entered the workshop space at Opaltorgets Bibliotek.
Photo: Camilla Uhlén
Let's think... How can we make this spaceship usable? What do we need to make it travel in space? What are things that could make our journey more comfortable?
Basic materials to work with: cardboard, colored paper, markers and tape, as well as some special space-theme-fitting silver thermal foil, is all we need to boost our imagination and get to work.
Photo: Camilla Uhlén
"Can you help me cut out a hand for the spaceship? It is alive and needs a hand." — M, 8
Essential Features
A propeller, an energy panel that works like a solar panel to charge the spaceship, a way finding tool that keeps track of one's location and shows the way between the stars — these are all essential components that help explorers steer a spaceship and travel in outer space.
We of course also need to be able to communicate with aliens, send messages, have a heating system to keep the spaceship warm, and a sound system for music is not to be forgotten.
We have realized that the children participating in our workshops are putting a lot of effort into making the spaceship cozy, spirited and inspiring, filled with color and imagination. There is often an emotional side to the logic that they follow when planning the components they are designing.
Photo: Camilla Uhlén
"Let's have a fruit box on the spaceship." — D, 8
Unexpected Features
Through play, children can more easily and freely speak their mind, than through conventional surveys and questionnaires. Play helps ideas flow, and it encourages meaningful dialogue between a child and a workshop facilitator or researcher they meet for the first time.
During the workshops, the children give insight on things we expect, and things we do not expect. One item that came up a couple of times was fruit — either delivered to your hand by pressing a button on the control panel, or a special fruit box designed as one of the main interior compartments of the spaceship.
This is an example of an idea that could potentially become a meaningful feature on Barnens Smarta Karta. If fruit during a journey in space is important to children, maybe having rest stops (water fountains, grocery stores, public orchards, picnic areas) on the final digital map is a good way to translate their needs. This we will definitely explore further.
Photo: Camilla Uhlén
"I will take this suitcase, so that I can have pictures of my family, as I will miss them when I am in outer space" — D, 8
Collaboration
During the workshop, children collaborated and built on each other's ideas. One child brought a piece of cardboard to be taken on the spaceship as a suitcase. Together with another child they then realized it could transform into a helmet and a vest.
Photo: Camilla Uhlén
"What are all these dots on the map?" — A, 10
Participants on a map
This time there was only space for the world map showing all the participants of our workshops. One of the children asked why were there only 3 participants from African origins. There will be many more, we hope.
It is just the beginning of our two year participatory process, and we are impressed by how much of the world is represented through the diversity of children and their families in Gothenburg.
Photo: Leila Natsheh
Would you like to join us next time?