Past projects 28
Let's Use The Makey Makey And Engineer It All Around!
Funded Jul 28, 2018My class has just begun to develop an understanding for what they can do with the micro:bits (Makey Makey substitute, due to out of stock). They have learned how to write and download code to the micro:bit that includes both output and input controls. They like the ease in which they are able to control the small and powerful devices.
Their next steps include completing a project to connect the micro:bit to headphones with the alligator clips to create a program which produces noises in response to various inputs. They are also working on incorporating the micro:bit into balloon cars we built earlier in the year.
Overall, the students have be amazed and impressed with the ease of use in both the hardware and software with the small devices. I look forward to all the wonderful creations that come out of their imaginations using the micro:bit.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
Code All About IT
Funded Apr 17, 2018My students have enjoyed using our new coding books in our classroom. Since the books are related to what we are doing in our STEM class, they are a welcomed addition. The books have helped some of my more reluctant readers pick up a book to help them create new and interesting computer creations.
Reading in my classroom is typically related to the projects that we are working on. With these new books, my students now have the ability to choose something that interests them and create something of their own design rather than something assigned.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 2 other donors.We're 'Appy About Learning
Funded May 9, 2018These new Kindle Fires have been a great addition to my classroom. The students have begun to use our Bloxel sets with the Kindle app to make their own video game creations. We are just beginning our journey into computer programming and having the ability to design our games without having to work with the coding is our first step. The students were excited to have the new Kindles in the classroom for use. The simplicity of the Kindles keeps the teaching and learning curve at a very basic level. Our next project will be to create our own apps for the Kindle in order to be the creators instead of just being the consumers of technology. My students and I thank you greatly for providing us with this awesome learning tool for our classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and 2 other donors.Once Upon a Video Game
Funded Nov 30, 2017My students were so excited to start using the Bloxels to build their own video games, they almost couldn't wait to get to class to begin. We started our gaming project by first researching a variety of fairy tales and as groups they chose a story they wanted to rewrite.
Now with the Bloxels, they are working on a video game to go with their story. Bloxels allows them to incorporate bits and pieces of their story throughout their games and create an interactive experience. They are just at the beginning phase of their projects creating their characters, scenes, and everything in between. I'm excited to see their finished stories and games and have them share them with their classmates.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
Learning to Code a Micro:bit at a Time
Funded Dec 1, 2017My 5th grade students were super excited to get our new micro:bits. After we watched a short video of different things that we could do with them, the students were ready to explore. We started small by copying the code for a simple rock, paper, scissors game and then downloaded it to the micor:bit. The fun came when they unplugged from the computer and were able to play against their classmates by simply shaking the micro:bit in their hand. Not only had they used code to create their game, they also got to use sensors which instructed the bit to randomly select an object (rock, paper, or scissor).
As soon a they were done with this simple project, my students were asking "can we make it do something else?" My answer to them was "of course!" Now we are in the process of coming up with ideas in groups in which to use the micro:bit in different ways. They have spent some time researching other people's ideas as well as developing ideas of their own.
The 5th grade students at our school do an end of year project creating a habitat for mission to Mars. Part of their mission for this is to create models of things to take to Mars. I'm hoping to work with the grade level teams to come up with ways they can incorporate the micro:bits into these projects to tech them up a little bit.
Thank you again for your generous contribution to this class project.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
3Doodle What You Draw
Funded Sep 25, 2017My class was very excited to receive the wonderful donation of 3Doodler filament in such a wide variety of colors. Many of the students had never seen 3D printing much less drawn with a 3D pen. They were also excited because they would get to keep what they made.
For this project, my 2nd grade tech class designed and created costumes for our Ozobot dance party. We decided that our tiny robots were going to be going to a party and needed a costume to wear. They spent one class drawing out their ideas for the costume. The next class they created a 3D version of their drawings. We finished up by programming our robots for a simple dance, recorded them in their costumes and set it to music. They then got to share their dance video with the school during the morning broadcast.
The students have loved working with the 3Doodlers and are already asking when they get to work with them again. Thanks to your generous donation, we have enough supplies for several more rounds of 3D creations.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and one other donor.Doodle What You Learn!
Funded Jan 13, 2017Being able to provide a way for my students to experience 3-D printing in a hands on way has been amazing for them as well as myself. The 3Doodlers are such a wonderful, easy to use tool our third grade students have been able to bring their book reports to life with our first project.
At first, the students were hesitant to draw anything with the 3Doodlers. Most of them started with a very fine line traced around a shape they wanted to make. After some constructive feedback, the students then realized just how creative they could get with their drawings.
There was a particular student who had drawn with pencil the house she wanted to create. After she had finished recreating it with the 3Doodler, I suggested that she make the whole house. She looked puzzled, but with a bit of instruction she was able to lift her drawing off the page and create a 3-D house for her book report.
The 3Doodlers have been a welcome addition to our maker lab. They are easy to use and have the potential for our students to construct wonderfully creative models for various subject areas. In fact next week, I plan on using them with the students when we study fractals and create 3-D Sierpinski triangles.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
This classroom project was brought to life by 3Doodler and one other donor.Raspberry Pi for All!
Funded Jul 21, 2016Dear Donors,
I just want to begin with a big thank you for helping add another step in my student's technology learning. We have only begun to explore the possibilities that the Raspberry Pi has to offer. The students have helped to set up the small computers and now are stepping into the basics of programming. Once they become more familiar and accustom to these new devices, I hope they see that computers don't have to cost a lot of money to be a useful tool in their learning.
The students are very excited to begin using the circuits and be able to program them to do all sorts of neat and fun things. One of the students can hardly wait until we program and use the tiny motor and propeller attachments. When we started using this new technology, one of my students even commented that they had missed having STEM after school and that they were glad that we would be able to use it more every day during the school day.
What I have seen with most of the students is that they are impressed with the overall size of this computer and how much it can do. We have only scratched the surface of what the Raspberry Pi can do by doing some simple programming with Scratch. Next step will be to attach the breadboard and begin to make it light up. We are so excited and thankful for this opportunity that has been afforded to us.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 3 other donors.Robots, Robots Everywhere!!!
Funded Mar 9, 2016Dear Donors,
My students have enjoyed using the new Ozobots to learn about robotics and programming. During this summer session with my kindergarten through 3rd grade students we were able to sample all that the robots have to offer. The best part about these robots is that they can be used by all levels of students. The lesson can be as basic as drawing a line and having the Ozobot follow it or as advanced as creating a logic problem and having the students use markers and predefined patterns to program the robots.
This past week using the Ozobots has been really fun for all the ages of students. We even had a few adults passing by stop in and try out the little robots. The younger students used a mat that I created that incorporated different code and various lines and colors. The 3rd grade students tried their hand at creating their own robot courses, incorporating lines and code patterns to control their robot. The students were totally engaged during the entirety of the lesson. In fact, when the end of class timer went off, they grumbled because they didn't want to go.
I am looking forward to using these new robots with my older 4th and 5th grade classes once the school year begins. Since they are so easy to use, I plan on making them a self-paced center in my hands on technology lab. It will be interesting to see how creative the students can get with them.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting
This classroom project was brought to life by News Corp and one other donor.Makey Makey, Squishy Circuits, Stop Motion and STEM
Funded Apr 29, 2014Having the opportunity to purchase items like Makey Makey circuit boards and stop motion cameras has really fostered my students' ability to experience STEM lessons in small groups after school. Without the generous donation I would not have been able to bring these awesome resources to my students to broaden their horizons and let them have the opportunity to learn in a creative hands on way.
We started with Squishy Circuits which turned out to be more fun that I had even imagined. The students got a thrill out of trying to create the best looking squishy circuit imaginable. Two of my students created a giant spider with glowing eyes another created an alien with tons of LED lights all over it.
The next week we explored creating our own computer input devices using the Makey Makey circuit boards. It was fun watching the students design their own game controller and configuring it in the best way to allow playing of the different computer games in the easiest way possible.
The last three weeks of the 5 week small group consisted of making stop motion videos. Their first project was to learn the software by having one pipe cleaner "actor". I was amazed to see how creative the students were with their action. One pair of students created a snake story that made you laugh as the pipe cleaner snake came back and wrapped itself around the pipe cleaner man. Another created a character that did a whole gymnastics routine which was quite amazing. Their finished projects were broadcast for the whole school to enjoy at the beginning of our school's daily news broadcast.
Overall, the students have enjoyed the 5 week STEM enrichment that was made possible through the gracious donation that we received. I have 5 more small groups this year and a waiting list of students who want to participate. The ones who got the opportunity to participate first talk about it to their friends who have yet experienced it. They let them know how much fun they are having. As a teacher this is awesome, because I know that while they are having a good time, I also know they are learning skills they may not have had the opportunity otherwise.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cutting