My students need Botley activity sets. Botley is a new robot used to teach coding concepts which focuses on early childhood development with young learners in grades Pre-K through 1st grade.
School has changed a great deal since we were kids, hasn't it?
Learning to code is becoming an essential skill.
Laptops, projectors, and tablets help us to engage students in new ways. School classrooms are changing and becoming playgrounds of learning. Our learners are natives of a technology-rich world. The way we engage our students in learning is also changing.
As an elementary school teacher in a low income area, our 700+ students in grades PreK-5 are different in many ways. One characteristic they share is an interest in using technology to understand new concepts and explore their world. Our school provides access to resources many of our students and families would not otherwise have an opportunity to use such as access to books, computers, and the Internet. Our students are learners, explorers, writers, artists, creative thinkers, and active participants in the learning process. They not only ask lots of questions, but they also value the process of investigating answers. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and each brings his or her own unique ideas and understandings to the classroom when it comes to exploring new things. The real power of learning is when they are engaged.
My Project
Educators across the country are bringing a variety of technology into the classroom, not only to actively engage students, but also as a new way to develop essential learning objectives. Early childhood development has become a huge focus in our county this year along with promoting coding and STEM skills. Last year, with the rising focus on Coding and STEM, I started an Innovation Lab class that all students in our school participate in similar to music, art, PE and library, and I am continuing to find resources for all our learners.
Engaging students in critical thinking and problem solving skills is essential to the development of early learners.
Botley is a robotic tool that children can use to aid them in learning these skills, all without the need for a computer screen. With Botley activity sets, I would be able to enrich our young minds in small group settings, coaching them through STEM related concepts. Botley activity sets would enable a hands-on, problem solving approach to complete mazes, code paths and and develop hard, critical thinking skills. These skills are important to start early. Giving students these experiences connected with national science and math learning standards is essential.
Motivating learners. Integrating technology. Improving test scores. Approaching familiar concepts in new, applicable ways. These are just a few ways our teachers could impact student learning through the use of Botley. Unfortunately, we do not have the funds on our own to offer these great learning tools to our students. We hope you will consider supporting our school through your donation, and we are thankful for your support.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mr. Hurley and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
