Dash Robots - Coding in the Classroom - Week 20

CN Elementary Teaching Team,

Here are a few highlights from this week:

Week 20 (January 20 – January 24)

Thursday Giggles:                 What did the big flower say to the little flower?

Hi, bud!

Robots. Our area has access to programmable robots. For four weeks, I am taking the resources from site to site. Over 60 teachers will have access to these resources.  That’s about 1,800 students who will have access to programming robots for the first time.

Accessories. Along with the robots, we have the launching tool, the gripper tool, and four write-on-wipe-off mats. These learning accessories expand what the robots can do. It’s not just moving, flashing, and talking. Robots can hit a target, transport objects, and write/draw ideas.

Learning Videos. I have designed four teaching videos to help with this learning process. If you check out these materials, but you need help showing the students how to use the materials, these videos are designed to help you with instruction.

Content Standards. I’m not quite done with a multi-page learning tool that highlights 60+ ways to effectively combine content standards with programming and robots.  When I finish that up, I’ll get that link out to you. Cellular interactions. Volcanic activity. Habitat and environment. Hibernation. ELA standards. Angles. Measurement. Estimate. Distance. Historical Timelines. Gravity. Velocity. Inertia. Laws of Motion. And more.

Calendar. Connect with me. I’ll try to set up a calendar so you can have access to these materials at your site. Be patient with me as I coordinate transportation.

Classroom. One teacher is pondering ways to purchase one for his room. It’s okay to have one in your room at all times. Children can have a schedule and work with this amazing tool every day. Why not?  You don’t need an iPad. They have an online coding platform now: https://code.makewonder.com/landing/. 

(Image credits here.)

Thank you. Thank you to my site administrators who let me twist my normal schedule to make this happen. Thank you to all the teachers who were willing to let me adjust their teaching schedule just a bit. Thank you for joining me on this learning adventure. It has been wonderful and the children love it.

Keep being awesome,

Melissa Culver

Organ Printing, Organ Transplant, Digital Citizenship, & Hour of Code [Week 16]

CN Elementary Teaching Team:

Here are a few highlights from this week:

Week 16 (December 9 – December 13)

Thursday Giggles:                What time is it if an elephant sits on the fence?

Time to fix the fence!

Organ printing is real and it’s coming to a human near you in the future.  If you aren’t familiar with this technology, check out the video below. VIDEO LINK HERE

Image credits HERE.

Nine Christmases ago my mom received a kidney and my dad gave one away.  They were a part of a 26-member organ transplant chain.  Thirteen people gave away organs in the morning.  Those organs were transported across America in different directions.  Thirteen people received those organs in the afternoon.  The organ-chain donation process could be replaced by 3D organ printing (with your own DNA) in the future. ARTICLE LINK HERE

Top: My parents post-surgery.  My mom’s kidney donor and my mom.  The medication my mom needed each morning to survive.  Bottom: My mom getting wheeled into surgery.  My mom and I after she was transported to recovery.  UC Davis Medical Center.

If you are curious about 3D technology and would like to learn more about introducing your students to these amazing ideas, just email me (melissaculver@cusd.com).

Digital Citizenship. Please remember that all components of our Digital Citizenship Requirements should be met on or before December 20.  Your site administrator has formed a plan so that you notify him/her when you have completed your part (grade level lead, email, Google Form, etc.).  If you need help with this, please email me ASAP.  It is hard to help you navigate that on December 18.  The three lessons you need can be found HERE.

Image credits HERE.

Hour of Code Intro Video. You’ll find the Hour of Code #Giveaway link at the bottom.  Participate in that global-wide event and sign up stating that you participated.  Feel free to introduce this event to your students with this video here:
VIDEO LINK HERE

Blog. Head to the blog to locate previous posts: BLOG LINK HERE.

Hour of Code. If you participate in the Hour of Code event, let me know HERE.  Use the long form of your email to sign in (@clovisusd.k12.ca.us). Two lucky winners will each win one Starbucks gift card ($15/ea).  The deadline to submit your participation in that online form is Friday, January 10.  Winners will be announced the week of January 13.  #Giveaway

Stay Curious,
Melissa Culver