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Kindergarten-The Matching Game 1Using ScratchJr, the students worked to create an animated matching game. Choosing 3 animals from ScratchJr, the students drew their game plan in their Launch Logs, then moved to the iPads. The students chose either the "green flag" or "touch" triggers to move the animals to the first letter of the animals' name. This project reinforces the importance of giving program commands in the correct sequence. 1st Grade-Meet ScratchJr 1Using ScratchJr (a programming tool on the iPad), the students learned how to create their own animations. They had to think about and plan how they wanted their animation to look and how their characters were going to act. 2nd Grade-Moving with Math 1Playing the Rosie games taught students to use step-by-step instructions for a character or actor (as they are called in coding apps). Using ScratchJr, the students learned how to choose new actors, program them to move, and how to use the grid feature to move actors using math skills. The students created a game with 2 cars. Two students tapped the cars to begin the motion of moving them to the finish line. Whomever ended up tapping first was the winner. 3rd Grade-Rosie's Path 2Just like the kindergarten-2nd grade classes, the students learned how to program Rosie the Robotic Dog to move through a maze of colored dots to retrieve bones, jump the mud puddles, and end at home. The 3rd graders took the process an extra step by including repeats (or loops) and "if-then" statements. 4th Grade-The Body's ComputerOur brains work in a similar way to a computer--with inputs and outputs. We receive stimuli, our brains process that information, and then our cells pass signals to generate a response. Students continued learning about the brain by completing a clay model of the brain. 5A & 5BWith Spring Break on the horizon, the specials teachers decided to mix it up a little. The students could choose between dodgeball or free art/STEAM. Some of the students used this opportunity to organize the VEXIQ robotics kits. 5C & 5D-Information HighwayThe students learned that computers store information in binary code (1s and 0s). Each code represents text. Using a downloaded PDF and conversion table, the students converted data to and from binary, marked up the PDF in Preview, and uploaded the completed document to Google Classroom.. Kindergarten-ScratchJr PuzzlesUsing ScratchJr (a programming tool on the iPad), the students learned how to create their own animations. They had to think about and plan how they wanted their animation to look and how their characters were going to act. 1st Grade-Rosie's RuntimeRosie is a robotic dog (played by the students) who can only follow specific step-by-step directions to work through a maze. She must collect bones and jump the mud puddles before ending at her dog house. Teams used code cards, much the way computers are programmed, to lead Rosie through the maze. 2nd Grade-Repeating RosieFollowing the same rules as Rosie's Runtime, the students were introduced to writing algorithms to solve problems. This group implemented loops, when appropriate, to eliminate redundant directions. 3rd Grade-Rosie's PathFollowing the same rules as Rosie's Runtime, and Repeating Rosie, the students were introduced to writing algorithms to solve problems. This group implemented loops, functions, and "if-when" statements, when appropriate, to eliminate redundant directions. 4th Grade-The Body's ComputerWe began our final PLTW unit for the year: Input/Output-The Human Brain. In this cycle, the students learned about the regions of the brain and how each region relates to specific functions in the body. The students learned about the nervous system and neurons and how they connect and work with the brain. 5A & 5B-Introduction to Robots 2To begin our new Robotics and Automation unit, the students explored different types of robots using nonfiction books. After choosing a robot, they answered a Google questionnaire and uploaded a drawing of the robot. 5C & 5D-Input, Processing, and OutputThe students identified basic input and output devices in computer systems. With a team, students identified similarities between a computer system and a human body (input, processing, and output) by watching a short video about the anatomy of a computer and participating in a game called Pass the Input. The students recorded their observations in their STEAM Journals.
Kindergarten-Meet ScratchJr 1Using ScratchJr (a programming tool on the iPad), the students learned how to create their own animations. They had to think about and plan how they wanted their animation to look and how their characters were going to act. 1st Grade-Free STEAMWe finalized our unit on Light: Observing the Sun, Moon, and Stars, so we took a break this cycle to explore STEAM related websites. 2nd Grade-Catch UpThe students had time to complete any unfinished work toward our unit about the changing Earth. As students finished, they were encouraged to practice their typing skills through online games linked on the STEAM Studio website. 3rd Grade-Story FactoryAfter reviewing nouns, adjectives, and verbs, the students were divided into teams. Each team was given a set of instructions that they were to follow when given a cue. The first team started the factory by delivering messages to the other teams. One team was in charge of responding to the messages with nouns, one with adjectives, and the other with verbs. As the "story factory" ran, each team was delivering and sending messages to the final team who inserted these parts of speech into a story. At the end of the program, the final team had a "Mad Libs"-like story to share with the class. Using the story factory as a model, the students were able to see how computer scientists break big problems into subproblems and ways that teamwork can support problem solving. This was the first computer science lesson in our unit "Programming Patterns." 4th Grade-Reaction Test 2Using the Tynker app, the students followed step-by-step directions to create a game that allowed the player to test their reaction time. The students chose a background and actors that would randomly move around the screen. Each time the player tapped the character, a score would be recorded with a reaction time (fast, medium, slow) displayed at the end of the game. 5A & 5B-Introduction to RobotsTo begin our new Robotics and Automation unit, the students explored different types of robots using nonfiction books. After choosing a robot, they answered a Google questionnaire and uploaded a drawing of the robot. As we have worked through this first year of STEAM, we spent a good deal of time considering curriculum. We made the leap during our 2nd trimester to adopt Project Lead the Way. Because we began using PLTW into the school year, it just hasn't been possible to do all of the units. The limitation with this unit is the expense of robotics kits. We were able to purchase robotics kits for two 5th grade classes. Next year we will be able to stagger the use of the kits so that all of the 5th graders will have the opportunity to use them, but time is a constraint this year. I know our 5C & 5D students are disappointed that they won't be using the kits this year, but it is important to us that the students (and us as teachers) get as much experience as we can with each unit. 5C & 5D-Catch UpWe spent time this cycle working through any unfinished assignments before we begin our next unit which focuses on computer science.
We had the privilege of a visit by one of our students' parents Brian Knapp. Mr. Knapp has a company in Grand Rapids called Externa CGI and specializes in CG imaging and design. He and a couple of his employees brought in some virtual reality equipment and gave the students an opportunity to experience virtual reality. They spent the entire day with us and the students thoroughly enjoyed the virtual adventure! Kindergarten-Animal MazeThe Animal Maze Game is designed to teach students how to write a basic set of instructions similar to coding a computer program. As a team, the students must help an animal get to its food and shelter. This game will prepare students for creating animations using ScratchJr. 1st Grade-Take Cover (Evaluate)In this design problem, students designed a covering for a playground to protect students from UV exposure. They used UV-sensitive beads and a UV flashlight to determine the effectiveness of their design to protect students playing on the playground. During this cycle, the students evaluated their designs and looked for ways to improve them. 2nd Grade-Save the City (Evaluate)The students worked individually to read a map of a city and identify homes that may be in the path of a landslide. Working in small groups, the students designed and tested a solution to prevent erosion of the hill and save the homes. Using the iPads, students recorded the investigation and spent this cycle reviewing the data and video to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their designs. 3rd Grade-Seed Solutions (Evaluate)The students completed their Educreations (iPad app) presentation with photographs, text, and a voice-recorded explanation. 4th Grade-Reaction Test 1Using the Tynker app, the students followed step-by-step directions to create a game that allowed the player to test their reaction time. The students chose a background and actors that would randomly move around the screen. Each time the player tapped the character, a score would be recorded with a reaction time (fast, medium, slow) displayed at the end of the game. 5th Grade-Disease Detectives (Present)There is an illness spreading at our fictional school. Using the Patient Information Sheet, the students made correlations between the students in the class and the activities they participated in together. Using data from the sheet, we determined how long the fictional students had been sick and how they interacted with one another to pass along the illness. Using Educreations (an iPad app), the students created a diagram or flow chart to illustrate how the illness was spread and made conclusions about Patient Zero. The presentations were shared with the rest of the class as students defended their diagnoses.
Between planned meetings that took me out of the classroom to being wiped out with bronchitis, the students had some guest teacher time. STEAM was still at the center of our activities, but we took a break from our PLTW curriculum. Kindergarten & 1st Grade-STEAM BinsUsing the STEAM Bins and task cards, the students created structures using the materials found in the bins. Each group of students had a bin that included materials like pipe cleaners, dominoes, Play-Doh, craft sticks, paper cards, base-ten blocks, tangrams, Unifix cubes, and Legos to explore and create. 2nd-5th Grade-KeyboardingThe students used online typing games to practice their keyboarding skills. The 2nd grade students accessed the STEAM Studio website to choose the game and the 3rd-5th graders played Nitrotype. |
Jamestown ElementaryWelcome to the STEAM Studio Blog for Jamestown Upper & Lower Elementary Schools in Hudsonville, MI. Here you will find the latest projects and concepts we've been working on in class. 
Ms. Bakercomes to Hudsonville with 17 years of teaching information and technology skills to elementary students. After earning a BA in Elementary Education at the University of Northern Iowa and a Master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 2000, she drew a circle on the map and chose Southwest Michigan. Archives
May 2017
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