My students need more access to hands-on materials and coding exposure. Initially, students will be using the Lego Mindstorm EV3 kits and idea book to create predesigned challenges helping them to understand how the design process works.
My students live in a small supportive community, their families are far from affluent, and over 50% qualify for free and reduced lunch. Many do not have access to technology at home. Students are currently enjoying the new technology curriculum as they learn and apply technology usage seamlessly to meet the 4 Cs + 1*: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Coding*.
We need to continue to upgrade our curriculum to offer STEAM and coding projects.
Doing so will help to prepare our students for a world in which their careers more than likely do not yet exist. Robots and coding are engaging and have cross-curricula potential. Phase 2 of my project will add two more sets of LEGO Mindstorm EV3s robots, giving us a total of three stations focusing on their 4 Cs + 1* for real world ready skills.
My Project
Initially, groups of students will collaboratively rotate through roles within each group: coder, designer, recorder. Introduction to the design phase will be provided with free challenging downloads. Their second project, students will create their own innovative designs based on group consensus. In addition, each group will document their build process to illustrate and to share the evolution of their artifact and learning.
Students will use the engineering and programming process with grit and growth mindset.
The Lego Mindstorm EV3 kits will be tools to help transform our teacher-led class into one with students driving their learning with the teacher evolving as an advisor/mentor.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. McCarthy and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
