[CASL-L] Coding toy advice

[Elaine Shapiro]

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions.  I haven't explored them all,
but would like to report that I bought Cubetto, and tried it out this week:
K in a whole class, Grades 3 and 4 experimented in groups.  Kids were
impressed, and it's fun.  The K had trouble with right and left, but it's
all part of their learning.  I stuck yellow and red tags on his back to
help them figure out if they needed a yellow (left) chip or a red (right).
We made up a story and they took turns programming Cubetto to move around
the mat.

Grades 3 and 4 LOVED the Code and Go robot mouse (they want to own one),
and I'd like to get more of these.

I also bought (it was cheap, and you could just make your own) a Let's Go
Code! activity set (mats and arrow cards and you pretend to be a robot and
walk through). Gr. 3 and 4 rotated through all 3 activities  in small
groups, and had fun.

I will keep exploring. Thanks again!

Elaine Shapiro

Library Media Specialist, Broad Brook Elementary School

Broad Brook, CT 06016



On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 11:04 AM, Burchard, Grace <Grace.Burchard at ct.gov>
wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Another option to try before you buy is to borrow some of the coding and
> maker kits that the Middletown Library Service Center offers.  We have
> Little Bits, Snap Circuits, Makey Makey, Ozobot, and Dash and Dot.  They
> circulate for 45 days, and can be booked in advance of when you want them
> by contacting me off-list at grace.burchard at ct.gov or by using this link
> to access our online request form: https://docs.google.com/forms/
> d/e/1FAIpQLSePdKPoY0_UAJEGXK6InAkBMbzNKttC5SY8Wltg3YknfBKdFA/viewform
>
>
>
> [image: CT_State_Library_Logo-02Resized]
>
>
>
> Grace Burchard | Library Technical Assistant | <Grace.Burchard at ct.gov> |*
> Office: *(860) 704-2212 | www.ctstatelibrary.org | Middletown Library
> Service Center | 786 South Main St. Middletown, CT 06457 | Toll Free in CT:
> 1-800-437-2313 <%28800%29%20437-2313> | Fax: (860) 704-2228 | deliverIT
> CT: E-108
>
>
>
> *From:* CASL-L [mailto:casl-l-bounces at mylist.net] *On Behalf Of *Jenny
> Lussier
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 02, 2017 10:39 AM
> *To:* Carrie Seiden
> *Cc:* casl-l at mylist.net; Elaine Shapiro
> *Subject:* Re: [CASL-L] Coding toy advice
>
>
>
> Yes! Thank you for adding that one too Carrie!
>
>
>
> Jenny
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 2, 2017 at 10:24 AM, Carrie Seiden <
> cseiden at northbranfordschools.org> wrote:
>
> Hello Elaine,
>
>
>
> Before making a purchase, I would look into the Finch loan program
> http://www.finchrobot.com/finch-robot-loan-program We heard about the
> program thanks to a Jenny Lussier CASL listserv post. They were a huge hit
> with our students!
>
>
>
> ****
> *When can I apply for the loan program?*
>
> *The application for the 2017-2018 school year is open until May 7th,
> 2017. *
> *How long can I borrow the Finch robots?*
>
> *Our standard loan is for 2 months. With travel time this generally means
> about 6 weeks of classroom time with the Finches. We do make exceptions for
> organizations that are planning on using the robots across multiple
> classrooms, teachers, or schools, and thus require more time with the
> Finches.*
> *How many Finch robots can I borrow?*
>
> *We request that you use the Finches in pair programming, which means that
> each Finch robot is shared by 2 students.  You should request Finches for
> half the size of the largest class with which you will use the Finch
> robots. For example, if you have a class of 20 students you should request
> 10 Finches.*
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 2, 2017 at 8:45 AM, Elaine Shapiro <elaine.shapiro7 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> I work in a preK -4 school, and my students have enjoyed the Hour of Code
> games and puzzles. I know little about programming, but am considering
> purchasing a hands on activity kit that I could use with an entire class,
> and looking for advice. I think Little Bits is too advanced for my
> students, plus I'm afraid some pieces would disappear. In the Demco
> catalog, the Code and Go Robot Mouse Activity set and the Ozobot both look
> fun. Anyone have experience with these or have other ideas? Or can you
> recommend where to look?
>
>
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Elaine Shapiro
>
> Broad Brook School
>
>
>
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> --
>
> Carrie G. Seiden, M.L.S.
>
> Certified School Librarian
>
> 2016-2017 CT Nutmeg Selection Committee Member
>
> Totoket Valley Elementary School
>
> 1388 Middletown Avenue
>
> Northford, CT 06472
>
> phone 203 484-1455 <%28203%29%20484-1455> fax 203 484-6090
> <%28203%29%20484-6090>
>
> follow me on twitter @lovealibrary
>
>
>
> Quality school library programs ensure that all students learn essential
> 21st-Century skills
>
>
>
> *"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."* --
> Marcus Tullius Cicero
>
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> --
>
> Jenny Lussier
>
> Library Media Specialist
>
> Brewster/Lyman Elementary Schools
>
> Durham/Middlefield, CT
>
> ALA/AASL, CASL, CECA, MSLA member
>
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>
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