The kids were all really excited about the first day of STEM club. They walked into the Innovation Lab all-a-buzz. Mr. Kocsis started the class asking the kids to briefly define the elements of STEM:
Then Mr. Kocsis showed the kids how to start and use the Sphero App on the iPads. Most of the kids were already familiar with Block Coding from school. So they quickly understood how to add, edit, move and delete a block of code. Then the fun began. Mr. Kocsis challenged the kids to write the following code:
After the first session, we talked about ways to improve the club to make sure everyone was learning and having fun. We've decided to make a separate group for the Kindergarten and First Graders, as they've never done Block Programming before. Mrs. Chaleki will work with them separately until they are comfortable with block programming and the Sphero robots. Then we may decide to integrate the two groups again. Mr. Kocsis will work with the older kids in the 2nd grade classroom and Mrs. Chaleki will work with the younger kids in the Innovation Lab.
Here are some photos from the first session. We can't wait for the next session!
- Science: the study of the physical and natural world through observation & experiment.
- Technology: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
- Engineering: the branch of science and technology concerned with the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures.
- Math: The study of numbers, equations, functions, and geometric shapes and their relationships.
Then Mr. Kocsis showed the kids how to start and use the Sphero App on the iPads. Most of the kids were already familiar with Block Coding from school. So they quickly understood how to add, edit, move and delete a block of code. Then the fun began. Mr. Kocsis challenged the kids to write the following code:
- Main LED: Red
- Back LED: 20 seconds
- Sound: Animal > Alligator (and wait)
- Fade: Red fade to White ( 5 sec)
- Fade: White Fade to Blue (5 sec)
- Strobe: Green 10 flashes for 1 second each (there is not a block for "strobe", they had to figure it out themselves)
After the first session, we talked about ways to improve the club to make sure everyone was learning and having fun. We've decided to make a separate group for the Kindergarten and First Graders, as they've never done Block Programming before. Mrs. Chaleki will work with them separately until they are comfortable with block programming and the Sphero robots. Then we may decide to integrate the two groups again. Mr. Kocsis will work with the older kids in the 2nd grade classroom and Mrs. Chaleki will work with the younger kids in the Innovation Lab.
Here are some photos from the first session. We can't wait for the next session!