Creating a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or STEAM (the A is for Arts) coding lab activity can seem pretty daunting if you have NO IDEA where to start. Let me help you and provide the resources to take on this task and create a coding lab for your students that will teach logic skills and have some fun.
I have been in the situation where I was given a task to teach something new and then spent way too much time looking for resources on the web. I always wanted to find a bundle that would provide the tools necessary to create a fun and challenging activity.
A STEM activity for any situation!
Having struggled with finding something, I created one and have been using it for over ten years in the classroom, camp, tutoring and weekend or afternoon event.
It is a fun and challenging activity bundle that you can use “as is” or add your own teaching ingredients!
A Teaching Bundle Created by a Software Programmer and Teacher
Are you a teacher and have you been assigned a STEM/STEAM oriented responsibility but are not sure where to begin?
This is a perfect activity bundle.
It provides all the materials to
create a coding lab activity for your students that develops the follow skills:
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Communication Skills
- Software Programming Skills
Get the Lab Download Here
All these skills are necessary for the current job market and the market that is coming. Even if the student doesn’t want to be a coder, developing these problem-solving skills is a must for every person.
Who can use these materials?
The materials are for anyone looking to teach fundamental logic and coding skills that incorporate STEM/STEAM concepts. They can be used in a classroom setting, at home, or as an afternoon/weekend activity.
What age groups?
This activity can be used with 1 student or a group of students from 4th grade to 8th grade. It can even be used at the high school level. Learn how I would use it with high school and college level students.
What is a coding lab activity?
It is a series of activities that follows a time-tested process that software developers have been using for decades. It has students plan, design, and develop a coding animation or game using the free block programming tool known as Scratch.
Included in the Coding Lab:
- Example Weeklong Schedule
- Create a storyboard
- "Pitch" their idea (eg. present their idea)
- Work with software to develop their idea
- Take on challenges
- Reflection questions
- Earn badges
Lab Activity Details
Proposed Weekly Breakdown (optional)
This activity can be run in a variety of different formats. I provide one format that can be offered over the course of a week.
Storyboard Template and Storyboard Example
Storyboards are great at capturing an idea and then putting the steps in a logical order so that it makes sense. A paper or digital storyboard gets your students to understand everything starts with a plan.
Video Tutorials
I have created a series of video tutorials that allow students to work at their own pace. In each video tutorial students are introduced to concepts and techniques found in software development. In a nutshell, they will learn about programming (coding) control structures and logic as they make graphics move, plays sounds, sensing a a variety of others.
Coding Challenges
As students complete each video tutorial they can work on a coding challenge associated with the respective video. Here they flex their thinking muscles as they expand on the concepts demonstrated in the video.
Reflection
Along with the coding challenges, each tutorial has students reflect by answer a series of questions geared at learning how to code.
Badges
Badges are earned at various points as they move through the video tutorials which build in complexity. The badges are provided as part of GetMeCoding.com’s learning system.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Happy coding!
