Skip to main content

2nd


October: Code.org Puzzles

Doodle3D




STEM Class: 2nd Grade Curricular Goals

In year four of STEM class, the focus is on increasing accuracy in analysis of the component parts of an object, increasing alignment between generated ideas and a defined engineering problem, and digging into design flaws/mistakes to seek clues for how to improve a design.

Design Sensitivity and Maker Empowerment
Looking Closely Exploring Complexities Finding Opportunity for Making
I can accurately draw, color, and label a picture of an object that I observe. I can draw and label a flowchart showing the components of a system. I can create something by repurposing. I can take something apart and use the pieces in a new way.


Engineering Design Standards
Defining Engineering Problems Generating and Modeling Ideas Testing and Evaluating Ideas Refining Ideas
I can ask questions to collect information about a problem or situation that people want to change. I can use that information to define a problem that can be solved by engineering a new or improved object or system. I can develop a drawing and/or a physical model for an idea. I can explain how each of the parts will help to solve a given problem. I can test two solutions to the same problem. I can explain what worked and what didn’t work about each of the designs. I can create a second drawing or model, indicating what aspects of the design will be changed and how the changes will address the weaknesses of an original design.


Computer Science
Computer Programming Computational Thinking and Computer Literacy
I can create sequences and loops when programming a computer or a robot.

I can use different events to initiate my code.
I know some of the ways I can give a computer input (touchscreen, mouse, keyboard).

I know some of the ways computers give us output (printing, movement, sound, screen display).


STEM Class Principles
Imagine Possibilities Dig Into Mistakes Embrace Challenges Ask Questions Share and Show Kindness

2nd Grade Projects 2019-2020:

  • Introduction to STEM Class Principles
  • Fairy Houses
  • 3D Printed Holiday Ornaments
  • BeeBot Robot Programming
  • Designing a Towable Trailer for BeeBot
  • Scratch Coding Project

Popular posts from this blog

7th & 8th Graders Showcase Automata!

  Several times each year, our school specialist team works together to create integrated units of study, where students explore a common theme through each of our content areas -- art, music, library/multimedia, PE, and STEM. Our 7th and 8th graders recently completed a Winter Carnival themed unit, where they worked on creating products or performances to showcase during a special carnival event for students in grades PK-2. In STEM class, students designed, built, and improved automata, which are mechanical devices that generate motion through a series of spinning cams, axles, and cam followers. Image Source: Adafruit The following success criteria guided the work for our 7th & 8th grade students: The automata must have a winter theme. The automata must feature at least one element that spins, goes up or down, or moves side to side. The automata design must include at least 10 different materials. Additionally, students were challenged to create a...

Technology Club: Scratch

For the past two months, second and third grade students participating in our after school Technology Club have been using the block-based coding tools in Scratch to create animations. In the club, students tinkered with graphic design, sound, and coding to bring their ideas to life. Check out some photos of their designs!

7th & 8th Graders Code In Python

In their first computer science project of the year, our 7th and 8th graders took a big step in their journeys as programmers -- moving from block-based to text-based coding. In previous STEM projects, students have used tools that allow them to snap together code "blocks" to make things happen. In this unit, they were responsible for typing commands to tell the computer how to execute actions. The image below shows the difference between text-based coding and block-based coding. While there are many different text-based coding languages, our 7th & 8th graders learned skills in Python, due to its beginner-friendly nature. Still, making this transition is not easy, so students were provided with resources and modules to work through that allowed them to have some starting directions and then challenged them to stretch their thinking by generating their own additions and modifications. Here's a look at a project, called "Turtle Race," in action:  https:...