Past projects 4
Flying and Coding: Obstacle Courses for Drones
Funded Aug 18, 2023Thank you so very much for supporting my Flying and Coding: Obstacle Courses for Drones project!! The connection between the computer programming we have been working on in class and coding with the drones is so cool! We started with just exploring for a day and free-flying the drones in the gymnasium. The next day we used a programming app to write code (even before turning on the drones) and then we went to the empty cafeteria to watch the drones perform the program they had written. Students are working in pairs so the collaboration is huge. Next week, I have put together three obstacle course choices in our lobby area. They will need to select one, write the code, and then we will venture into the lobby and test the program. I asked students to free-write their experience using the Tello drones with controllers and here are some of the things students said:
"The Tello Drones were quite a unique thing to experience, especially when the camera was revealed on my phone screen for the first time." (students were able to use their phones to see what the drone was seeing)
Another student said: "Blocks and Tello code seem to be roughly similar and to code it, it would be similar to coding an app as you would test, add/fix, test, etc." (absolutely correct! Students have been experiencing the debugging process as this student described "test, fix, test")
A third student said, "I thought the drone was pretty cool, [I was] scared a small bit because it moved so fast." A different student commented on the ability of the drones and said, "I like the sensors on the Tello as it makes the drone easier to fly and not crash."
I am looking forward to more challenges and lessons using drones. Thank you so very much for supporting this project. Lastly, a very special thank you goes out to United Airlines, the biggest donor for this project. I appreciate the support so much!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sherburn
This classroom project was brought to life by United Airlines and 15 other donors.A Pencil for Perfection
Funded May 31, 2021Our school has been in session (in person) for 5 weeks now and I want to share with you what an amazing and positive impact the iPad, Apple Pencil, and the Notability app have had on my students. I am no longer tied to my document camera as I present new information or reflection on a lesson with my students. Instead, I am able to take the iPad around the room while projecting it onto my screen. If a student has an idea to share, I can easily hand the iPad to them (without calling them to the front of the classroom in front of their peers) and they can show us their idea. The Apple Pencil is so precise and easy to use.
Classroom management for my younger students has also been easier because I can move around so much more.
Lastly, and maybe my favorite benefit of the iPad, Pencil, and the Notability app has been the audio recording feature. This allows me to record audio while a lesson is presented, which can then be loaded onto our Google Classroom page. It is a huge time saver for me and a real benefit for students that are out sick or out for contact tracing.
Thank you so very much for your support with the project, my teaching efforts, and my student's learning!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sherburn
Biology Banter With a Book
Funded Jan 27, 2021The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks has strengthened my students' knowledge of science, medicine, and brought light to some of the tragic historical stories involving racial inequalities in America. My students thoughtfully engaged in discussions, and some times argumentation, as we talked about topics like the medical progress made versus the ethical dilemmas that arose from Henrietta's nonconsensual cell extraction. The classroom discussions around bioethics have been most engaging for students.
Random House, the book publisher, provided a fantastic teacher guide that was broken down by chapter and guiding discussion questions. Students all agreed that Henrietta's cells were an amazing contribution to medicine and the field of genetics.
Our daily schedule has been inconsistent the past few months but even with the inconsistencies, my students and I have grown an increased appreciation for our time together in class. Discussions, like those involving HeLa, have been engaging and interactive, which is exactly what we've needed after having been in a remote, asynchronous learning environment for weeks. I am beyond grateful for the impact this project has had on my student's education, especially during these challenging times!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sherburn
A GIANT Polymer Periodic Table
Funded Dec 2, 2014Thank you SO MUCH for supporting the GIANT Polymer Periodic Table Project! My students had a fantastic time with this cross-curricular activity. I was very impressed with the art they created. The history connection or discovery piece of the project occurred at the beginning as students researched key uses, properties and other characteristics of their element. One student discovered that his element, chromium, was used in the leather-making process and is also a key element in the emerald gemstone. This student created additional shapes to look like a football (made from leather) and a large emerald ring circling the football. It was so much fun reading their required 100-150 word essays that described why they chose to represent their element through the specific art.
The next step is to display their tiles in our central lobby area.
Thank you again for supporting my first DonorsChoose.org project and the GIANT Polymer Periodic Table. My students and I appreciate the financial support so very much!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sherburn
This classroom project was brought to life by Smarties and 6 other donors.