According to https://coderdojo.com, CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community based programming clubs for young people. At a Dojo, young people, between 7 and 17, learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and explore technology in an informal and creative environment. In addition to learning to code attendees meet like minded people and are exposed to the possibilities of technology.
Within the CoderDojo Movement there is a focus on community, peer learning, youth mentoring and self led learning, with an emphasis on showing how coding is a force for change in the world.
The 2015-16 dates for the Omaha area Coder Dojos haven’t been updated on the AIM website, but the first one is on Saturday, September 19. We also have a Westside event on that date, but depending on interest, we may not be able to take everyone that signs up. In that case, consider attending this Coder Dojo by signing up here.
CSG-AIM Coder Dojo: CSG 18020 Burt Street, Omaha, NE TIME: 9:30am to 11:30am
According to coderdojo.com, CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community based programming clubs for young people. While Westside Community Schools hasn’t officially started a Dojo, the EY Team is excited to try it out to see if there is any interest.
The first CoderDojo will be held on Saturday, September 19 for students in grades K-6. There will be a second Dojo on Saturday, November 21. Both Dojos will run from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at Westgate Elementary on 7802 Hascall St. A parent or guardian must be present for the duration of the Dojo.
Based on interest and feedback, further Dojos will be scheduled throughout the year.
The Eiffel Tower is named after a man named Gustave Eiffel, but he didn’t actually create it. Instead, two of his top engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, designed the tower. The names of 72 different artists, engineers, and mathematicians who helped with the design are carved into the tower so that everyone can remember them!
Spark your math thinking!
1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #3: Eiffel Tower Math
2. Read this article about the Eiffel Tower. Record 3 math details about this structure on your recording page.
3. Watch the Geometry of the Eiffel Tower. Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.
4. Answer one of these these questions on your recording page. Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.
Describe the significance of the Eiffel Tower’s height and how it compares to football fields.
Who was Gustave Eiffel, and what was his profession before designing the Eiffel Tower?
Explain what a truss is and how it functions in supporting structures like bridges.
What are the two types of forces mentioned that act on the truss, and how do they differ?
What is meant by “static equilibrium,” and why is it important for the stability of a well-designed bridge?
5. Global Math Stories combine math, history, and cultural stories. Check out the information about the Eiffel Tower. Answer 2 of these questions on your math recording page. Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.
The tower has 1,665 steps in total. If you were allowed to climb all the way from the bottom to the top, how long do you think it would take you? Explain your reasoning.
Every repainting of the tower requires 50-60 tons of paint. Find the mean and median of the amount of paint that has been used during these applications: 52, 60, 58, 54, 59, 52, 60, 51, and 55 tons.
Imagine the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower are standing side by side with the sun shining on them. The Statue of Liberty is 93 meters tall, and its shadow is 10.7 meters long. If the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters tall, how long will its shadow be?
6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
You can use step 5 as the first story for the Global Math Stories Badge that can be found on the EY badge page.
Guitar virtuosos have the ability to manipulate sound waves, crafting melodies from inspiration and vibration. Explore the science behind guitar playing, explaining how materials like wood, metal, and plastic come together to create rhythm, melody, and music from the initial strum to the ultimate shredding chord.
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #3:The Physics of Playing Guitar
2. Watch this STEAM education intro. Record the STEAM topics on your recording sheet
3. Find out about the Physics of Playing Guitar by watching the video below. What components of STEAM are discussed in this video? What’s something new thing you learned? Add your responses to your recording page.
4. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
I wonder if my repeated dreams about failing high school English class mean something (I didn’t fail it by the way). I wonder how we can have a whole basket full of unmatched socks. I wonder why the time of day with the slowest traffic is called rush hour (OK…I stole that wonder from a website, but now that I think about it, I do wonder why that is so).
“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder”
lyrics from “I Hope You Dance” written by Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers
I sometimes think I’ve lost my sense of wonder. The busy-ness of day-to-day life crowds my thoughts and most of the time I feel more like a wanderer versus a wonderer. Thankfully, I have four boys who remind me daily what it’s like to be curious and wonder. I’m also thankful for websites like Wonderopolis where I’m encouraged to explore, imagine, learn, and grow!
What do you wonder about?
I recently asked some students to show me their best wonder face. I then introduced them to Wonderopolis and explained how to earn the Wonderific Certified Wonderer Badge. Not even a week later, the same students are asking if there is an Expert Wonderer Badge and how they can earn it. I wonderwhat other great ideas these kids have.
I wonder if anyone will read this blog post. If you do, would you mind leaving a comment below? What makes you wonder? Maybe head to Wonderopolis and post something new you learned after reading a wonder.
Nanotechnology pertains to extremely small entities. Nano Art focuses on exploring and highlighting the aesthetic appeal of structures, both natural and synthetic, that are sized in nanometers. Learn about both in this mini spark.
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your Full STEAM Ahead recording page: #2: Nano Details of our World
2. Look over this chart as a reminder of what the measurement prefixes mean. Record the prefixes for the smallest 4 on your recording sheet. Also record the symbols for these smaller measurements.
A micrometer symbol is μm. A nanometer symbol is nm. A picometer symbol is pm and a femtometer symbol is fm.
3. Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Visit this site and record the details on your recording page. Zoom in so you can also see the information on the visual.
3. Watch this video and find out about nanotechnology. On your recording sheet, make a list of 10 examples from the video.
4. Learn about nano-art at this site. Scroll through the gallery. On your recording page, write about your favorite images. Notice the symbols on each of the images. Some of them are micrometers and some are nanometers.
5. At the bottom of the site there are two paragraphs. What is nanoart? and How small is a nanometer? Read each one and record details on your recording page.
6. Share your Full STEAM Ahead recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.
Spark your math thinking!
1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #2: Graph the Story
2. Watch this introduction video. On your recording page draw a sketch of the graph from the video. Add in these 4 labels on the 4 lines she drew-steep slope, slope, horizontal line, negative slope.
3. Download and print this sheet. If you would prefer to do the graph digitally you can use this resource.
4. Start this video and then pause it to get your graph set up to look like the graph in the video.
5. Restart the video and decide where you will need to plot the points.
6. Pause the video and complete the graph.
7. When you have completed the graph, resume the video to see how you did. If you need to make adjustments to your graph do so. If you are doing the activity online, add a picture of your graph to your recording sheet.
8. Choose 3 more videos to watch, graph, and check. You can make them on paper or use the digital graph maker.
Video choices
Height of waist off ground 1-The task is to graph the height of the person’s waist off the ground against time.
Air Pressure– The challenge is to graph air pressure against time.
Elevation-The task is to draw a graph of their elevation against time. The graph contains increasing, decreasing, and constant sections.
Distance from home plate-The task is to draw a graph of the player’s distance from the home plate against time. The graph shows linear piecewise sections.
Weight of cups-The task is to graph the weight on the scales against time.
9. Share your math mini spark recording page and your graphs with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Finding ideas and inspiration for writing a story can be tricky for both children and adults alike. This mini spark makes it easy to start writing since the idea has been chosen-Super Snail Detectives!
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #7: Super Snail Detectives
2. Watch this video about silly snail detectives. The narrator of this video offers a TON of suggestions on how to develop your own snail characters.
3. After watching the video one time, go back and watch it again, pausing to record details on your recording page to answer the questions he asks. This will help you develop your characters for your own Super Snail Detectives Story! Aim for 10-15 pieces of information on your recording sheet for this step.
4. Using your notes as a guide, write the first chapter of your your own Super Snail Detectives Story.
5. Ask for edits to be make for your first chapter and make the suggested changes.
6. OPTIONAL: Create some illustrations to go along with your chapter.
7. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Do you want to keep working on your snail story? Talk with your teacher or EY coordinator about what steps you need to take to make this into a badge.
This math mini spark explores Weird But True! Size Edition.
Data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.
Finding ideas and inspiration for writing a story can be tricky for both children and adults alike. This mini spark makes it easy to start writing since the idea has been chosen-Super Snail Detectives!