Past projects 5
Super Spheros
Funded Dec 2, 2021The Spheros have made all the difference in engaging my students with coding! When I first showed them the Spheros, they were a bit skeptical that "those little balls" were going to help them learn computer coding. However, once I explained how to use them and demonstrated how fun "those little balls" could be, they were hooked.
Our first endeavor was to have all the students log into Sphero.edu where there are introductory games and projects for the student to get to know how to use the Spheros. Once they mastered the combination of iPad and Sphero we were off to the races...literally.
I had each student place their Sphero behind the starting line and on my count, they had to program a serious of commands so their Sphero would navigate a given maze. They worked beautifully in pairs and navigated the programming extremely quickly. The first pair to complete the maze got a chocolate bar and everyone got a homework pass.
Thank you so much for your generosity. Future lessons will include programming the Spheros to navigate the surface of Mars, painting with the Spheros and allowing the students to design their own projects using the Spheros.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Budinger
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 3 other donors.Oh No! No More Oil or Gasoline!
Funded Oct 25, 2021This project really opened the eyes of my middle school students about the possibilities of alternative fuel sources. They had seen solar panels on the houses, seen the wind turbines off the highway and knew all about the fancy Tesla electric cars, but what they did not know is HOW these things worked? I designed this unit project to teach them just that!
When the boxes arrived, they were all asking, "What's in the boxes, Miss?" I kept them guessing until the Monday when we started the unit. I opened one of the cartons and showed them the boxes of cars inside. As I have come to expect from my students (they get very little given to them) they were intrigued but quiet. "Aren't you excited?" I asked, "You each get your own car to build, design and keep!" One student looked a bit suspicious, "You mean we can take it home?" "Yes", I replied with a big smile. THEN the excited chatter started, they sat up straight and wanted to know all about these marvelous cars! By Wednesday we had finished many lively discussions about renewable and non-renewable energy sources and started our builds. Thanks to Donors Choose and your amazing gift, I even had enough cars for students who were absent to make-up the project later. Usually that does not happen and they just look on with someone else. Whoa, were they surprised!
As you can see in the pictures, they did not care that it had just snowed. They wanted to run their cars the first time the sun came out! It was an amazing day and they still tell me about tweaks they are doing to make their cars faster (more panels, bigger motors) and how they have decorated them. This was an incredible learning opportunity made possible by all of you. These students have so little and can learn so much with our help. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Budinger
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and one other donor.A Tribute to NASA'S 50 Year Triumph
Funded Dec 16, 2019I cannot thank you enough for your generosity. It means the WORLD to these students to be able to actually experiment with force and gravity with their own two hands! Watching their rockets blast off will be an incredible experience. Our space unit will be the best, most memorable science unit ever, thanks to you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Budinger
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 3 other donors.iPads for Success
Funded Mar 27, 2018The use of technology is vital in preparing our students for the world. Many of my students knew nothing about how a computer can be used other than for video games. These iPads have allowed me so much flexibility and creativity in my lessons that I cannot imagine being without them! The photos we can use and the live streaming we can accomplish is amazing and allows me to transport my students to worlds they would never experience otherwise. Our technology unit in Spring will be to make an iMovie which will incorporate the use of the iPads with editing and music software. the students are learning so much without even realizing it! Thank you for gifting these to my classroom and thereby supporting STEM education for all these great students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Budinger
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.Not Just Pi in the Sky
Funded Oct 16, 2017Thanks to your generosity, I have introduced coding into my classroom through the use of the Raspberry Pis. I taught the students to make their own apps, create their own games and draw their own logos. Many were excelling at school for the first time. I found out 6 of my students have signed up to take a summer class in coding! I was delighted and kept encouraging other students to sign up. The students now ask to use the computers during free time to further their knowledge about coding and continue their projects. Hopefully, I have opened their eyes to possible employment opportunities and ones which they would actually enjoy.
If I can give one student the opportunity to break the vicious cycle of poverty, I feel I have succeeded in changing just a little part of the world.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Budinger