My second grade students are a diverse, curious, and adventurous group of kids living in rural Alaska. We begin each day by greeting each other and sharing a 'tidbit' from our lives. I am inspired every day as I listen to my students talk about their fascination for the natural world and their varied adventures. Stories of berry picking, fishing, moose hunting, and bear encounters are the norm.
Like most Alaskans, my students are not afraid of challenges and take their jobs as learners seriously.
They are independent thinkers who enjoy having choices and taking charge of their own learning.
My Project
My students are looking for a challenge. They enjoy coding and robotics and are hungry for more. They got their 'feet wet' with Hour of Code. After that, they worked through Lego We Do builds, building and programming their models to perform tasks. They are ready for more open-ended challenges that include coding and robotics.
We will use the Sphero robots in a great variety of ways to enhance learning in all subject areas and to help hone students' problem solving skills.
In math, we will code the Sphero to trace geometrical figures. Using different speeds, we will collect data on how long it takes Sphero to travel distances. The sturdy covers will protect Sphero in outings. In Language Arts, we will dress Sphero as a story character and program it to travel through a story map, retelling the story. Students will be encouraged to create games that can be played using the Sphero, complete with directions and rules. These are just a few of many exciting applications for the Sphero in the classroom.
I have also included 2 Snap Circuit sets in our request that will be used during our Genius Hour/Engineering workshops. We are very excited to take our knowledge of coding and robotics to the next level with these items!
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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. Pfeiffenberger and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.