The students at our school are enthusiastic and energetic middle schoolers! They love to use technology, fiddle with new gadgets, and learn how to use new tools.
They attend a small, rural school in Arkansas made up of fourth through seventh grade students.
While they are going through a difficult stage in the transition from kids to teenagers (as all middle school students do), they are among the most energetic and exciting age group to work with. When they get excited about learning, their enthusiasm explodes out of the classroom!
My Project
Technology is everywhere, so why should Language Arts and STEM be separate? My class will be using a LEGO Mindstorms robotics kit and three Sphero programmable robots for literacy projects that will have them reading Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, writing for authentic audiences, and learning coding and engineering skills at the same time.
Later this year, the literacy teachers on our team will be teaching a Science Fiction and Fantasy literature unit.
Students will choose a book from that genre to read in small groups. Then each group will be completing a STEM-integrated final project to demonstrate their understanding of the book and create something totally new.
Some groups will be creating a LEGO Robot using the Mindstorms kit we are requesting. They will have to build and program a robot that is able to complete a challenge related to their book. Then, they will record a video of their robot completing the challenge and write a Sci-Fi themed short story based on their robot.
Other groups will be using the Spheros to re-enact an important scene from their book. They will have to create a butcher paper map of the scene they are re-enacting, then program the Sphero to navigate the map and emit related colors and sounds. They will also record their robots and then write Fantasy short story using their scene as a starting point.
Finally, we will conclude with a robotics fair in which the students display their robots, programming, and videos for our entire school to see! We hope that merging robotics and Language Arts will create a meaningful learning experience that will stick with students for years to come.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. McBride and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
