Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Bird Nest Challenge

Bird's Nest
"Bird's Nest" by Rugged Lens is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 

Nothing says "Spring" like birds making nexts, laying eggs, and hatching adorable babies. Birds gather pieces of grass, straw, possibly leaves, maybe string or fabric, and "glue" them together with mud, as seen in this video:


Your building challenge this week is to build a bird next that meets these rules:
1.  uses nothing outside of nature (no glue, no tape, no play-dough, no Model Magic) 
2. can stay together and hold its shape
3. can support 3 "eggs" (use marbles or dice for eggs).  

Can you do it?  Send me pictures or video of your creation!



Robotics for Social/Emotional Learning

Blog Post written for Wonder Workshop


Robotics for Social/Emotional Learning

When we talk about Robotics, we usually think about computer science, coding, and engineering.  But there are so many more skills that we can develop outside of those areas.  I have found that the greatest amount of growth in a robotics project is in the social emotional learning.  This is right in keeping with the focus of maker education and makerspaces in schools. 

My principal role is kindergarten through fourth grade, so that is where I my experience comes from. My most recent title is STEM Integration Specialist in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.  I started as the technology integrator, which then changed to technology teacher (I was a drop off class instead of co-teaching with classroom teachers within the content).  Then about 6 years ago, we tore out our computer lab and built a gorgeous makerspace.  Now our kids have an hour a week in which they come to the library/makerspace for class.  Prior to last year we called this “class” library/tech, but we added in a heavier focus on science and engineering and we now call this Library/STEM class. We focus on the design process, engineering building challenges, computer science, robotics, technology basics, video making, and library/research skills.  We are in a fortunate situation in that we do have a lot of technology available, but we still view STEM as a “class, rather than STEM being integrated throughout the curriculum.

STEM and Maker Education are viewed and defined differently no matter where you go, but to me the focus of all the work my students do is on the process, not the product. Some of my favorite benefits of ALL the work we do in the makerspace and with tech, especially robots, are the social benefits.  For kids working in groups, they are learning so much about group work skills - negotiation, listening, clear communication, taking turns, compromising, being supportive.  And even working by themselves, they’re learning how to plan, how to use mistakes as learning opportunities, how to be ok facing a challenge, how to troubleshoot or debug, and the ever important skills of patience and perseverence.  These skills all transfer over outside the makerspace into all their work. 

 A few years after we began our makerspace at Summit one of the classroom teachers called me into her room to check out an activity she was doing with her students - it was a holiday themed STEM building challenge. She had done this activity a couple years in a row and had remarked how each year their level of creativity and attention to detail improved, how their attitude about facing challenges had changed, and how noticeably they worked well in groups to approach the challenge.  She attributed this to activities like group coding challenges and that focus on process not product.  This is why I’m such a strong believer in what we’re doing in STEM education and by creating such rich and engaging exploration opportunities.

Last year I had second grade students work in groups to compete in the Wonder Workshop Robotics Competition.  The extent of my teaching was to be sure they knew how to use the Blockly app, how to pair their iPad with their robot, how to understand the coordinate grid mat, and how to read the challenge cards.  Then within their groups, they established roles or jobs, a system for taking turns and rotating the jobs, and a way to take bits and pieces of each person’s ideas and combine them.  I LOVED seeing them bring each other up, help each other, and make sure every member of their group felt like a part of the process.  The results far exceeded my expectations - the kids who tend to stay out of conversations and activities were actively involved and contributing.  The students with special education needs had jobs that were appropriately challenging for them, but were also critical to the group.  The gifted students had a role in the group that allowed them to be challenged, but also kept them from taking over the activity. It was one of those teacher goosebump moments. 

Often the students motivation and willingness to take on a challenge is organic.  Some of the best learning comes from just handing kids the iPad and the robot and asking them to see what they can do.  I saw this earlier this year with a group of fourth grade girls.  They were completing a coding activity for me, in which they had to complete some of the Wonder Workshop challenge cards (that are regularly provided free for teachers to download), but after completing my challenge, they then went beyond it, trying to get Dash to do a variety of different things. Each time they were successful, they’d add on a little bit harder.  I was merely an observer as these two pushed each other and upped the level of complexity on their own.  That, to me, is meaningful learning for them and something that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

I will continue to use Dash and Dot as a fun, highly engaging, highly motivating tool in my library/STEM classes, because I love how much my students grow through using them.

Recording of Webinar for Wonder Workshop

Dash and Dot Robots have been a huge hit in our Library/STEM classes.  Kids have had so much fun playing with them, learning with them, and participating in coding challenges.

 I was given the opportunity of presenting a talk in early April about the many ways we can use our Dash and Dot robots outside of my Library/STEM classes: for math, science, reading, and more!  Please feel free to check out the talk at this link:

Presentation Slides

Video Replay


Bird Nest Challenge

"Bird's Nest"   by  Rugged Lens  is licensed under  CC BY-SA 2.0  Nothing says "Spring" like birds making nex...