I just had to share this Lego/EV3 vending machine created by one of my 5th grade students. He is in my GT class as well as our campus Robotics Club. He owns an EV3, and spent his spare time last week making this contraption to dispense Starburst candies every time you deposit a quarter. There … Read more
We have all sorts of building materials in B.O.S.S. HQ (Building of Super Stuff HeadQuarters) – from Legos to Magnatiles. During the first quarter of our after-school Maker Club adventures this year, the students rotated through different building materials each week. To make things interesting, they were given building challenges. I wanted to make the … Read more
“Keep Going” is a good video to show that encourages the Growth Mindset. It is filmed in Lego stop-motion, although adults are the target audience. Students in 3rd grade and up will understand the message, particularly if you have already been talking about mindsets in class. I also like that it fits in nicely with … Read more
For this week’s Phun Phriday post, I am directing you to a recent article on Laughing Squid. If you have ever tried to make a Lego stop-motion film, you will definitely appreciate the artistry of this “re-make” of the Clock Tower scene from Back to the Future. (Warning: there is a short expletive around 1:19 in … Read more
I am frequently asked for advice on what materials to purchase for school maker spaces. I am definitely not an expert on this topic, but I have gotten a couple of grants for B.O.S.S. HQ (Building of Super Stuff Headquarters) that have allowed me to try out different products. I thought I would devote this week to … Read more
As regular readers may have deduced, I am a Kickstarter addict. So, when I saw Edison on Kickstarter last year for a very affordable price, I jumped at being one of the backers. Edison arrived right before Christmas – perfect timing for me to check out its features before bringing it into the classroom. Edison is … Read more