Technology/Engineering and Makerspace

Grade 1:  Poets! Students typed, formatted text, and illustrated beautiful spring poems in computer class. Here is a video of students reading their poems in front of a green screen and then inserted their spring image as the background!  Spring Poem Videos!
   While students were being videotaped, student group used Legos in the makerspace to complete a Lego Earth Day Challenge. They used a mini figure, bricks, and a building plate to show the mini figure doing something to help the Earth.

Grade 2: Lego Challenge = Teamwork: Each group was challenged to build their dream playground with a slide, raised play structure, and one moveable piece. The students worked together well and their playgrounds were amazing!

Grade 3: Students used internet research strategies to locate and compile facts to create a slideshow about an animal. They proudly presented their slideshows to their classmates.

Grade 4: Students researched a famous person who shares their birthday and prepared and presented slideshows.

Grade 5: Students reviewed internet research strategies and then researched a modern invention, prepared and presented slideshows.

Grade 6: Students worked in groups with the Snap Circuits Coding kit to build a working light circuit and controlled it using an iPad via Bluetooth.  

Grade 7: Students worked in groups using the MakeyMakey Kit. They connected the circuit board to a Chromebook and connected objects to the circuit board using alligator clips. They tested various objects to determine which ones were conductors of electricity. Groups created a play doh game controller, and played an onscreen piano and bongos.

Grade 8: Students were busy with a variety of tasks... Some student groups made final edits to the yearbook, while other groups used the Solar Robot Kit and Snap Circuits Coding Kit to build a small solar panel and light circuit.
 

Create paper cup, Sphero-controlled robots!Students worked in groups where members took turns completing the steps to create the robot: they used a ruler to measure and cut construction paper to 4" wide, evenly cut the bottom of the cup off, cut slits on opposite sides to create arms, rolled and attached the construction paper to create the head, cut slits for spiked hair and drew a face at the top between the two arms. Then each group placed a Sphero robot under the paper cup robot and connected and controlled its movements using an iPad. The students were so excited to control their cute, little robots! 

Visitation Academy strives to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies to enhance learning in all curriculum areas! 
  
Students learn computer skills including Keyboarding, Word Processing, Preparing Slide Presentations, Video Production, Working with Spreadsheets, Website Design, Internet Research, and Programming/Coding whle using Google Workspace for Education Apps. Class projects incorporate the use of 21st Century technology skills of: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. 

• iPads are used in all grades with most concentration in the Pre-School through 2nd Grade classrooms. Students in these classes have many hands-on opportunities to use educational apps to further enhance their learning. 
    
• Chromebooks are used by all students in Grades 3-8 in their classrooms. These students  utilize  Google Workspace for Education, which enables the students and faculty to work more collaboratively on projects and also enable students to access their work in school and at home.

• The IXL web-based program for Language Arts and Math is used by students in Grades K-8 for both in school and at-home for skill building throughout the year. This helps to prepare them for MAP Growth Testing held in the fall, winter and spring.

• SmartBoards, and Promethean ActivPanels are used in the PreSchool through Grade 8 areas for more interactive lessons.  

In addition to Computer Classes, students in Grades PreK-Grade 5 will visit the Makerspace to complete STEM challenges in small groups.

NEW THIS YEAR -- Middle School students will utilize our new Technology/Engineering Lab to learn, design and create! 

What is a Makerspace? CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE ABOUT OUR MAKERSPACE ROOM!

A  Makerspace  provides hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering and tinkering.  The Makerspace will be part of the students' subject curriculum and contains a variety of materials such as: hand tools, sewing machines, cardboard, tape, craft sticks, Legos, Kinects, etc. There will be many technologies used: iPads, Chromebooks, 3D Printer with Tinkercad, Dash Robots, Sphero Minis, Ozobots, Lego Kits, Cubelets, Makey Makey, Snap Circuits, and Squishy Circuits. By working in our Makerspace our students' creativity, hands-on, and critical thinking skills will shine! All students are expected to use the space in a safe, careful and respectful manner.