Coding with WonderDash and Lego WeDo

WonderDash

This week my students have begun our coding unit with WonderDash Robots and WeDo Legos. They absolutely love writing code with these programs. I am using these activities with 1st and 2nd graders. WonderDash WonderDash is a coding program that utilizes iPads and WonderDash robots. There are several coding programs available to use with the robots for every age group. In my gifted and talented classroom, we use Blockly, Path, Wonder, and Xylo. They do have a program Go, that simply allows you to drive the robot without coding. In my class, we tend to only use Blockly and I have the students create their own lines of codes. I love for my students to document their work on Seesaw, so we can share what we are learning with families and other GT groups. The students will take a screenshot of their finished line of code and they have the ability to record their robot in action.

WonderDash offers cards with challenges for the students to complete or create. The cards have students complete 6 different types of coding challenges: sequences, loops, events, conditionals, functions, and variables. These cards offer exciting adventures that WonderDash will conquer and offer a bonus challenge at the end of the adventure.

   

WeDo Lego

My personal kids absolutely love Legos and can get lost in their own world creating complex designs. Lego has entered the coding world for our earliest learners with WeDo coding. The program will run on laptops and iPads, allowing students to follow step by step to create several designs, much like the Lego design books, then they move the coding phase and will create lines of code and bring their Legos to life with real working motors and lights.

 

Mancala

This is one of my favorite games to play with my Search students. This is a classic game that I

remember playing in school that involved critical thinking and strategic planning.

1. Play online: you can select the difficulty. https://mancala.playdrift.com/

a. You can have your child learn to play on the computer first to learn the rules or

make your own game and practice together.

2. Or you can create your own Mancala game by using an old cleaned out egg carton. 

3. You can also purchase your own. Below are links to a few I have found on Amazon. 

Rush Hour

Another favorite game in Search is Rush Hour. In our classroom we have the

physical game and it is a great game to work on critical thinking. I love that
the game allows the students to work at 4 different levels and as they
master one level they can continuously challenge themselves. I do have both
games in the class, I introduce Rush Hour Jr. to kindergarten. Then they
progress up to Rush Hour. For my first graders, it’s a matter of preference,
some choose Jr and some the regular one. For 2nd and up I recommend the
regular Rush Hour. This game is perfect for all ages, as my 5th grader will
still play with this!

Easter Steam Challenge

One of my families favorite holiday is Easter, so naturally we love to try out the Steam challenges at home before I try them at school. One of my students favorites and my personal children's is the Save the Egg Challenge. During the COVID 19 Crisis, they created their own creations. This is a challenge they love to do each year, trying different designs and materials.

I use this challenge every year with my 2nd graders at school, but realistically it could be done with any age.

You can purchase this challenge on my TPT site. I have a full version for the classroom or a simplified combo for homeschooling!

Easter Pack   Protect the Egg

Digital Learning

I know many of us educators are chartering unknown waters at this time. In a time when digital technology is all around us, how do we turn our classrooms into 100% digital without warning or training. Don't worry you are not alone. I can sympathize with parents trying to "homeschool" their own children, as I sit here and try to teach my own 4th and 5th grade children. My 14 years of classroom experience did not fully prepare me or any of my colleagues for this. I love that our superintendent told us to just to do the best we can! They are not holding up this bar and expecting teachers to reach these unreachable goals. Our district checked out Chromebooks to families that did not have enough technology for digital learning, free lunch/dinner provided for our free and reduced population, some even had the food delivered to their homes if needed and much more.

I'm living by the mantra JUST BREATHE!

As a gifted and talented teacher, most of our classwork is done with group work or hands on. Moving to a digital platform is a challenge that I feel like I'm slowly tackling everyday. I'm blessed to have such wonderful parents who are supporting me!

I'm currently working on a STEAM Challenge packet for homebound students! Praying that we can get back to the grind and see our babies soon!

Things my family and I are enjoying today outdoor recess and my outdoor office!