Help me give my students these Sphero robots to increase their knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math by using hands-on, engaging activities with the robots.
I teach in an urban, low-income district. Our school serves students in kindergarten through eighth grades and provides rigorous academics, fantastic teachers, and a safe learning environment. It is extremely hard to get funding for anything. We are a small school that is often overlooked. The students are curious and eager to learn. Sadly, there are not always enough funds for individual classroom projects.
Despite the many challenges they face, I am looking to keep things simple and provide my students with creative and meaningful learning experiences.
Today's students embrace the ever-changing world of technology, and my job as a teacher is to help them learn using technology for our 21st-century world.
My Project
Nearly 80% of future careers will require some STEM skills. A stimulating STEM education is essential for developing the basic analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills central to academic achievement and workforce readiness in the 21st century. This project will address science, technology, engineering, and math initiatives.
Some of the goals of this project will be to increase students' mathematical skills to foster skills that enable all students to locate, evaluate, synthesize, apply, and present information effectively and to promote educational excellence.
Students will work in small groups to write computer programs that control how these Sphero robots roll. Students will begin with MacroLab - a visual programming app. After completing five MacroLab lessons, students will be ready for advanced lessons in OrbBasic - utilizing a powerful app for text-based programming. These lessons align with the national Common Core Curriculum for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.
Students will complete different lessons to learn the basics of programming the Sphero robots. Then they will move on to individual challenges that foster team building, problem-solving, and computational thinking. Each lesson has a step-by-step teacher guide, student guide, and worksheet. Also, this project will look to improve attitudes toward STEM fields and careers, increase STEM capacities and skills, and produce a higher likelihood of student graduation and then pursuing a STEM career.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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