Second Graders have been using the free coding app Scratch, Jr. to learn how to program and better understand computer science. They have worked on simple projects individually, as well as more difficult projects with a partner in order to improve their collaboration and communication skills. Above, second graders present to the class a project they created that shows their character "Sweeping" over the entire grid and touching every square. This develops their skill in using direction blocks, repeat blocks, and trigger blocks, (blocks that begin the program). 

Second graders will finish up their computer science unit by creating a simple video game, like the one above. They have to have a main character who tries to win the game, a target that the main character tries to reach, and an obstacle that tries to prevent it from reaching its goal. We have seen a lot of creative work, which they will present to the class over the next week or two!

First graders have also been working with a partner to develop their skills in using Scratch, Jr. We read a story and then wrote about the characters, setting, problem, and solution in our Launch Logs, (PLTW notebooks). We sketched out 4 of the most important scenes from the book in our logs and then students were given an iPad to use Scratch, Jr. to animate the story and make it come alive with movements and sounds. When finished, they will present them to the class. This activity allows our students to use those 21st Century skills of collaboration, communcation, creativity and critical thinking. 

Project Lead The Way has been taking place at Bryant since the end of January. In Kindergarten, we have been studying structure and function and the Engineering Design Process. In one of our first activities, we read the fairy tale, "Jack and the Beanstalk", and then students were given the task of building the tallest beanstalk that could stand on its own using only 10 pipe cleaners. We had a lot of great beanstalks in a variety of heights!

Next in the unit we read the fairy tale, "The 3 Little Pigs", and then students worked together in pairs to build a house out of either toothpicks (straw), popsicle sticks (sticks), and bricks. They had to make it sturdy enough to stay standing when a strong wind from a fan blew on the house. (We called it the "Big Bad Fan"!)

Our last project in the unit included designing a paintbrush that would make thick lines, thin lines, and dots. Students again worked in partners to follow the Engineering Design Process to explore different ways to build this paintbrush and then test it out by painting with it. They also presented their designs to the class and explained whether or not it did what they wanted it to do. 

We have finished Project Lead The Way at Pattengill for the 2016-17 schoolyear! Fifth graders programmed their robots to move autonomously. They made their robots push blocks off a field without a controller by measuring out the distance the robots had to move, as well as figuring out the degrees the robot had to turn.

Fourth Grade built vehicles out of the Construction Kits and then added materials to protect an egg from cracking in a collision with the wall. They added more kit pieces, bubble wrap, cotton ball, rubber bands, etc... in order to absorb the energy from the crash. This project was the culmination of our unit on potential and kinetic energy. 

Third Graders created code sketches and designed and programmed their own video games on the free app, Hopscotch. They learned how to use commands in this app to make characters win a game, lose lives, and they also gave the game a timer. They worked on the creation of these games with a partner, helping to develop their collaboration skills. They also presented their video games to the class.