PLTW at Pattengill, October 2022

5th Grade

Two classes of 5th graders have finished both of their robotics units. We ended the first unit with a robotics competition where teams worked together to earn the most points by moving colored blocks to their collection zones.  It was based on a real world problem of robots cleaning up nuclear waste released during the 2011 tsunami in Japan. We loved working in alliances with other teams, but we also liked some friendly competition to see which team earned the most points!

In the second robotics unit, students build a block coding program on the iPad and download the program through Bluetooth to their robot. Their robot can then move autonomously, without the use of a remote control. Students get a lot of practice measuring distances, converting lengths, trying one program to see if it works and fixing any bugs, or mistakes, in the program until the robot does exactly what the students want it to do. There is tons of collaboration among team members as they work out problems. 

Fifth Graders were also very fortunate to have a University of Michigan Professor of Robotics and Aerospace Engineering, Anouck Girard, come speak to them about what she does, why engineering is important, and what they can do if they are interested in working in those fields someday. She also brought in materials for a very fun activity where students built their own "brush bots" to practice their building and problem solving skills.  Students also built mazes for their motorized brush bots to try to make it through! 

4th Grade

Fourth graders learned how to block code in Scratch (locally on their Chromebooks, not web-based). they have learned about inputs and outputs, bits and bytes, and then used this knowledge when coding a game for someone to play in Scratch. With their creations, we saw how creative and what critical thinkers they are!!