Coding with Scratch!

 We have a software engineer in our family.  Unsurprisingly, Paul likes to code.   He started with Scratch—which is free!  My knowledge of coding or programming is nil.  I found the books shown below to be helpful.  Our local library has several elementary programming books available.  We started with the ‘Code Your Own Games’ book.  Paul and I found the kitty in Scratch to be easy to understand once we used the step by step guide in the book.  Paul and I never learned how to incorporate images from the public domain into Scratch.  But, we did encoding the programs needed to make a simple game.

Let’s learn binary code!

 Is this idea random, or what?  I’m working with a small, Montessori school.  Montessori education is frequently student-led.  Right now, the elementary students at the school are interested in knitting, crocheting, and weaving.  You can connect STEM + Knitting.  Marly Bird has a pattern for a Binary Code Knit Super Scarf.  (If you sign up for emails, you can download the detailed patterns.  It has ASCII for letters, numbers, and symbols.  The instructions are quite clear.). My thought was that kids could also weave their names in binary.  Basically, just use two colors for the ones and zeros.  Marly Bird recommends using a third color for spacing between the letters.  I’m knitting  a binary scarf, now.

Paul and my husband, Rob, made Valentine Twizzler Binary Codes.  They made coded messages instead of a necklace.  The two of them have a strict ‘no crafts’ policy.  Secret codes are fun!  Your kids might like to learn Morse code, too.  Here is an article from Popular Science with a little history of spies Knitting secret codes.  Fun, right?  I think the Twizzler Binary Code activity or weaving beads in binary code might unleash some enthusiasm to research a little history about spies and codes.  Here are some books about spies and coding.

Bioethics

The kids began presenting their Bioethics projects.  The first two have restricted access.  I took a few screen shots to share with you below, to gauge the caliber of the submissions.  The kids are passionate on the topic.  We had an outstanding discussion.  As Roman Catholics, the Church calls for the respect for life from ‘conception to natural death’.  These teens embrace the Catholic faith fervently.  My son is a Catholic priest.  He and a friend, Mary, are experts on Bioethics.  They are planning a presentation for the kids.  I’ll record and post it in a couple weeks. 

Black History Month: Scientists

 Do you need an idea for a composition?  Consider a biography of a scientist.   I taught in both private and public schools before I taught at Co-op classes.  Public schools are more apt to celebrate MLK day or Black History Month in February.  For my money, it’s never a bad idea to celebrate success and encourage all of my students.  Science Buddies has a list of 38 Scientists.  Here is NSTA’s list.  Lastly, is ACS Honors African Americans in the Chemical Scientists.  When I taught in Prince William County, I learned about the success HBCUs have preparing young men and women to be doctors, scientists, and engineers.  Additionally, HBCUs ´Lead Nation in Black Baccalaureates Who Later Earn Doctoral Degrees’.  Let’s celebrate and inspire all of our students!

AI and Writing about Bioethics

Update:  Here is the Prezi generated by AI.  Thankfully, it’s very basic.  I wouldn’t have a problem if kids used an AI assistant to help block out their ideas.  When I created the template, I have about 12 specific terms, such as pre-implantation genetic testing.  Prezi produced a basic presentation template.  Here is a slide deck with some topics we explore under the guise of Bioethics and Designer Babies.

My Composition class is working on a Bioethics project.  I want them to use Canva or Prezi for the project to learn new tools.  Most the the Prezi and Canva templates are AI.  Perfect!  I want the kids to experiment with AI, too.  One former student said she used Ask Writer for an essay.  She wrote her essay first.  Then she submitted a detailed outline to Ask Writer to see what it generated.  The resulting essay wasn’t bad.

The Composition class is working on the Designer Baby Project.  The kids can examine any bioethics issue.  Our Co-op is Roman Catholic.  We Catholics have loads of materials: USCCB Bioethics Materials, Dignitas Personae (Dignity of a Person),  and Donum Vitae (Respect for Human Life).  Additionally, Begotten Not Made examines reproductive technology.  One student is researching Jérôme LeJeune, who first linked Trisomy 21 chromosomes to Down Syndrome.  Another is using Calvin and Hobbes to examine cloning.  The comic writer raises issues about which clone is real?  What is the morality of cloning?  Another student wants to examine the foundational issue, the dignity of every person.  Another student studies Philosophy and is researching exposure of infants, a form of euthanasia, in Ancient Greece and Rome.  I asked the kids to pick topics that resonated with them.  It produces better writing.once I generate a Prezi, I’ll link it here.

Happy New Year! Color Changing Experiments!

 Happy New Year!  Let’s start with some science experiments!  I like color change labs and demos.  Science Bob’s Rapid Color Changing Chemistry! uses iodine, Vitamine C tablets, liquid starch, and hydrogen peroxide, household chemicals you may have on hand.  (This Unknown Lab uses loads of household chemicals, such as iodine, to test for unknowns.  Do the Elephant’s Toothpaste lab to use up the hydrogen peroxide.). Are your kiddos still small?  Try Walking Rainbow with Mouse Paint or Rainbow Fish.  STREAM adds reading and art to science experiments.  Try making Marbled Cards or the Red Cabbage Acid-Base labs.  I buy powdered red cabbage for pH labs; but it’s pricey.  Try blending the red cabbage leaves in water or rubbing alcohol.  The pigment should be used immediately.  

Let the older kids plan an afternoon of color changing science for their younger siblings.  Borrow several rainbow-themed books from the library to read aloud.  The kids might want to set up a skit to introduce the experiments!  Now you are doing STEM Theatre.  Cap the afternoon by painting together with homemade watercolor paint. Look at you doing STREAM education!

Christmas Writing Project

We have one more week of classes before we take a break for Christmas.   My teens are doing this Holiday Family Narrative.  Earlier this term, the kids wrote about their families’ birthday celebrations.  I am going to encourage my kids to illustrate their stories.   Here is the story I wrote as an example.  Fun, right?  I can’t wait!