Dash Robot Lessons and VR Technology - Week 22

CN Elementary Teaching Team:

Here are a few highlights from this week:

Week 22 (February 3 – February 7)

Thursday Giggles:                 Why didn’t the orange win the race?

It ran out of juice.

Robots. Here is the PDF file that showcases my initial lesson and 60+ learning ideas that integrate content standards. There are limitless possibilities when it comes to using these great learning tools in the classroom. Talk to your colleagues and get their first-hand feedback on this awesome learning experience. Lesson plan tools here. Multi-page lesson plan and curriculum ideas.

VR Technology.  Space is limited for this opportunity (during this timeframe). I will be on each site for 2 days (10 days total). If you receive an email from me, please respond in a timely fashion. This helps me solidify the calendar in a timely fashion. I’ll work with 35+ teachers during these sessions. Poke your head into the lab when it comes your way, and try it out if you are interested.

For VR, we use Google Expeditions. Google Expeditions has over 900 learning opportunities in this great app.  The respiratory system. Historical sites.  Great Wall of China. Underwater scenes. International Space Station. College campuses. Landforms. Visiting a farm. Visiting a pool for swimming lessons. The day in the life of  a surgeon. Shakespeare. Nine hundred. I won’t list them here. Check the list out for yourself (see that link). My website houses more tools associated with this learning tool. Find the drop-down menu at the top. Or, locate the Workshops tab. You’ll find the teaching slides there.

Minecraft Training. Yes, this is educational. Geography. Science. Math. Tons of learning. Email me by Tuesday, February 11 if you are interested.  Space is limited.  I have three teachers signed up already.  March 3 and March 4. We’re at the Technology Service Center (district office).  A team from Minecraft will host the training. Your sub is paid for. It will happen during the school day. Limited spots available. Lunch is paid for. First come, first served.

The software is practically ready-to-go on LENOVO student laptops. We just download (for free) and go. 

Image credit here.

Stay curious,
Melissa Culver

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