Our school community has a culturally and academically diverse student population, welcoming general education students, autistic students, and English language learners into our school. In addition to offering science, physical education, dance and vocal music, we also have introduced a STEM class focusing on computer programming and engineering. Students in grades k-5 engage in a variety of activities that promote thinking and principles of the design process.
Our school’s mission is to develop academic excellence and to produce students who are prepared for life with 21st Century computer programming skills.
The school is a place where students with a range of developmental disabilities and intellectual impairments learn alongside their peers in mainstream classrooms. Our goal is to create an environments where all students, including our special needs and ELLs have access to the tools needed to support 21st century skills (ie computer programming).
My Project
Imagine a world full of mystical and magnificent creatures. A world of pure fantasy and wonder. Imagine this world drawn on a piece of paper. No, not good enough, not innovative enough, not interesting enough. Now imagine this world come to life as it is 3D printed. Students can touch it, interact with it, and manipulate it. Each scene in their story can be molded and shaped in way previously unimaginable.
Students can now be the storytellers, the set designers, as well as the production engineers.
Students, in teams of three or four, will write a fantastic fairytale involving 2 or 3 characters. They will describe in great detail their simple setting. Then using the Makerbot 3D printer the students will bring their words to life. Each group will use Makers Empire to design all the necessary elements to build the scene from their story and print them using the Makerbot printer. Finally, they will turn their story into a 2 to 3 minute video using stop motion photography techniques (like a flip book). Voila! Their story has come to life as they narrate their story and manipulate their scene.
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