Organized Chaos

So much fun!!!

The fourth graders are currently working on a coding/design project.  They spent the month of January learning the ins-and-outs of Scratch, a program that teaches coding.  They then designed a project that they're going to do in the makerspace that will have some component that is being run by coding, either with Scratch, or WeDo software (that goes with the Lego WeDo Robotics kits).  Some have decided to create robots with moving parts; some are creating sports equipment with built in sensors, to help keep score; others are making interactive artwork, where they're using scratch to program designs drawn on the computer to follow the mouse or change colors; and some are making interactive posters, board games, displays, charts or dioramas, programmed to light up, play sounds, or have moving parts.

The energy of this kind of project is contagious - they're all so excited about what they're starting and there are a dozen different things going on at the same time.  My administrator observed me last week during one of these classes with a fourth grade group, and he commented on the same thing - they all get right to work and work right up to (and often past) the very last minute.

Check out the activity today - there were kids breaking apart old headphones to study how speakers work, building a soccer goal out of wood, creating video games in Scratch, using conductive thread to sew flowers that will be a part of an interactive musical bouquet, designing  on Tinkercad, constructing Lego creations to program with Wedo, using the 3D pens, and working with the Makey Makey.

Looking forward to seeing (and showing off) their final products!