Every year, my 2nd grade GT students build bridges as part of a unit on Structures. We have K’nex kits, and they enjoy learning about the different types of bridges as well as making their own versions. This year I really wanted to have them do more than follow the instructions in a kit. When … Read more
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on a #makered Twitter chat and somehow the conversation turned to using the Sphero robots to paint. I was hoping to do this with my 4th graders because we are studying mathematical art and I thought it would be a good way to tie it in with the … Read more
Calling this activity “Robot Olympics” might have been a bit ambitious. After all, there was really just one event and the only (and extremely tenuous) connection to the real-life Olympics was the fact that chariots were involved. Nevertheless, “Robot Olympics” was the title of our program last Thursday. Our after-school Maker Club had been exploring … 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
To continue our Gifts for the Gifted series of 2014, I would like to recommend a little robot that looks like a toy but has a lot of educational potential. I purchased a Sphero for my classroom late last May, and my students barely had time to unbox it before the school year ended. As … Read more