Hour of Code 2015!

The time is here!

Last year students were introduced to a computer programming curriculum throughout the year.

Computer Programming Vocabulary they learned:

• Algorithm-- a set of instructions
• Macro-- a computer program. The algorithm creates a macro.
• RBG- Red, Blue, Green Channels
• Loop--to repeat from the beginning (any algorithm inside the loop)
• Degrees-- angles that tell robots which way to set their directions

Students learned to manuever Sphero Robots and created several macros (computer programs) using those robots throughout the year.

They participated in The Hour Of Code. 

Each individual student was given code.org accounts and has had access to their account (in and out of school) since.

A year from this point we are back at THE HOUR OF CODE!
It has been such a blessing to our curriculum. I have noticed many advantages of teaching coding. First, and foremost-- it has created a growth mindset in my students. When we first began, students were easily frustrated and wanted to quit when they didn't know the exact answers in the lines of code they were creating. Now, it is amazing to see them work through challenges which sometimes takes several attempts and a high level of problem solving! I am so proud of them! Computer project teaches basic logic as well as state mandated english and mathematics standards.

Students will be excited this year when they learn that this year's Hour of Code includes a MINECRAFT or STARWARS coding experience which encourages them to learn to leave the blockly coding system, instead replacing blocks with actual Java code.

Welcome to the hour of code!

CLASSROOM LINKS TO CODING:

2nd grade website  http://studio.code.org/sections/GPKBPV

3rd  grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/MSRDON

4th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/MAWNES

5th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/NEVJUK

6th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/QUIXLW

7th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/UWZETY

8th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/IFPQIW

9th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/NUWKEY

Music Composers!

Students had an opportunity to investigate incredibox.com and were able to create their own music! Incredibox allows students to create custom beat-box tracks by changing beats, effects, and melodies. Students create their song easily by dragging and dropping musical effects onto avatar characters. Each character can be muted or changed allowing an unlimited amount of musical compositions possible. Overall, it allows students to become composers gaining confidence in musical studies. Try it out! Its super fun and totally addictive!


A few composers and their music are listed below :)

2nd grade composers:

Vainbow by composer: Stetson

Beats by composer: Savanna  

Rhythm by composer: Eli

DK by composer: Scott

6th grade composers:
The Mix All Over by Darren

PumpUp1 by DJ Jacob

7th grade composers:

Jammaphone by composer: Gavin 

The Mix by composer: Trenton 

BooBooPop by composer: Josh

8th grade composers:
Slushies and Slushies II by composer: Caleb

Week of September 28th: GATE Week 3

Last week's challenge winners!

This is not at all what I expected when I said "Build the tallest tower possible".

This group collaborated well and definitely thought outside the box.

Congrats 8th graders!

We did a LOT this week! Our students conducted investigations into :

STEM bridge building 

Students were asked to create the longest bridge possible with a few catches: 

1. They must use every supply

2. It must resemble a bridge as much as possible.

3. Students must collaborate with all partners at the station.

Robot making

The DEF grant helped GATE purchase a couple of robotic arms. Students worked collaboratively to put them together at the Robotics station.

Tristan shows how he made a gear for the robot.

3D Doodler Pen Artwork

Most students this week focused on 2D art, with a few students moving up to 3D art. Students were allowed to follow stencils to help them create their artwork.

Literacy challenges

This is a silent challenge. Students can only express themselves with their marker... with one catch. They are responsible for only one word at a time. Students must think outside the box as they react to their partner's changes to the story. They had a great time!

Computer Programming challenge

Students logged into their coding accounts and began working through challenges. Several students are high enough on their accounts where they can begin designing basic coding-block games.

Week 2: Steammaker Challenges Begin!

With the move of our GATE classroom, last week we focused on finding where everything had moved with a scavenger hunt. This week we focused on our classroom theme 212 degrees (video below). We will focus on the concept behind 212 degrees through our curriculum, STEAMmaker investigations, and character trait discussions. Classroom prezi here:

We also discussed classroom procedures and how to get the most out of our weekly time together.

This week, I arranged stations where students could investigate different skills they have not "touched" in a while including: Computer programming, STEM challenges, 3D art, engineering/ designing, and iPad presentation apps. Students who were in the GATE program last year were involved in lessons covering these station investigations throughout the year.

For the first month of GATE class students will engage in Level 1 stations allowing them to "remember" how our technology works before we dig in deeper into new Level 2 challenges. Students had the opportunity to choose the area they are most interested in. Check out our video below to see their work in progress!

As you can see, we had a great time! I will update the blog with week 3 soon!
--Mrs. Henley

Welcome back!!!

We are starting the 3rd week of GATE. In weeks 1 and 2 we went over procedures and have done small challenges to remind the students about all the different learning opportunities they have in class. Students have had opportunities to control the Sphero robots, conduct STEM challenges, utilize the Lego Wall, brainstorm on the Thinking Wall, create 3D art with our 3D pens, and log into their code.org accounts.

Our life principal word we are studying is "Courtesy".
Students are discussing how to be polite and mannerly and we are having fun with it! If you have a 2nd-->6th grade students they now have courteous responses for the following two prompts.
#1.  "Thank you"
#2. "How is your day/ morning/ afternoon?"

Students discussed how in class they will speak in complete sentences and address one another by name. We are working on acknowledging every conversation directed to us and valuing all ideas from our classmates.

I am still waiting for everyone to turn in their GATE contracts. Once I have those, I will begin posting more pictures and video of our classroom investigations.

Limeades for Learning has begun again! The most votes wins! Go here to read about the supplies we are asking for and to vote daily for our grant! https://www.limeadesforlearning.com/projects/1694180

For now: Here are our code.org classroom links. Students may work on their assigned "course" from home or they will have opportunities to work on them in GATE class as well.  Students who pass their assigned "course" will have access to a special STEM challenge coming up!

CLASSROOM LINKS TO CODING:

2nd grade website  http://studio.code.org/sections/GPKBPV

3rd  grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/MSRDON

4th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/MAWNES

5th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/NEVJUK

6th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/QUIXLW

7th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/UWZETY

8th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/IFPQIW

9th grade website http://studio.code.org/sections/NUWKEY

Week One Slideshow: 
Week 1 we introduced the different zones of the classroom to the students through a scavenger hunt. Students had to write their name on the thinking wall, create their first initial on the lego wall, determine where our classroom supplies were and how many pieces of technology (iPads, 3D pens, etc.) we had.

One of the neatest things we did was have a group discussion of what it means to be in the gifted program, why we have GATE, what activities they enjoyed last year, and what activities they look forward to this year. It was a perfect start to what will be a wonderful year of learning and investigations. Watch our video below as a recap of the week.

Thank you Phillips 66!

The Phillips 66 Research Center approved a $20,000.00 Water Conservation grant request which was written by representatives from each of Dewey's schools. These advancements will add a campus Outdoor Learning Classroom & Aquaponics System addition to our district greenhouse. We are thankful to have the support of Phillips and are excited to add more opportunities and educational experiences for our students! 

Thanks to Verdigris Electric!

We are excited to announce that Verdigris Electric has awarded our class with several items to help kickstart our MAKER classroom! Among them are:

• 2 Laptops
• 2 3D Doodler Pens
• 2 Makey Makeys
• 3 sets of Little Bits 
• Lego Baseplates for our Lego Wall (for STEAM activities. Here is an example)

We are so humbled by this donation and excited to utilize these MAKER materials! Thank you so much Verdigris Electric!