3rd Graders Code!

"X-Ray Goggles makes it easy to see and remix the code behind your favorite web pages. The best part: you don't need any prior coding experience! Just activate Goggles, click on a section, and edit. Then, share your remixes with others."

-Mozilla       

One of the third grade language arts standards (ELAGSE3W6) requires students to use technology to publish their writing. So why not tinker with HTML code at the same time? After the break, we will combine our paraphrasing skills with coding. For example, here's a screenshot of a Scholastic News article:

And here is a "remixed" version of the web page:

To publish your work, you will need to set up a Webmaker account. Click here to get started.

Musical Arrays

What does a rectangle with an area of 15 centimeters squared, and a perimeter of 16 centimeters sound like? 

How would the sound change if the area stayed the same, but the perimeter changed?

Music Board begins with a black grid. When users click squares, they light up and play musical notes.

According to the game's creator, Music Board is a "free, open source game." Computers and software cost money, but there are lots of creative souls out there who believe it all should be free. For everyone.

Click any of the images above, or right here to begin constructing sound.

Tinkerer

littleBits and the Classroom Tinkerer

This week the class will vote for the year's first Classroom Tinkerer. The student who gets nominated and receives the most votes will take home a littleBits kit to create imaginative DIY projects. 

The job requires planning, trial and error, and writing… yes, writing. A maker's journal is also part of the kit, where the Tinkerer will illustrate and write about project design and process. Click here to see past classroom tinkerers' unique creations.

Lincoln Tinkers!

It's curious how some years the students' creations focus on light, and others (like this year's) center around sound and vibration.

Batiste Tinkers!

"The vibration motors aren't powerful enough." Batiste's original design for a massaging helmet turns out to be a lesson in trial and error.

The final design mimics a traffic light and a car that moves with the help of two vibration motors.

Maya Tinkers!

Maya, this year's first classroom tinkerer, demonstrates her creation for Lincoln and Carl.

Dubbed "There Goes the Door," Maya's design sends a cardboard character crashing through the front door of a Halloween house.

Duckduckgo

Duckduckgo searches the internet without all the annoying advertising and creepy tracking you get with other search engines. If the right to privacy is important, click the image above, or right here to try it. 

Oh, Duckduckgo also has special doodles, like this one… 

for December 21st, 2012 (when the world was supposed to end), and…

Minecraft!

Holland Tinkers!

Caylon Tinkers!

The latest classroom job begins with a lesson on trial and error, D.I.Y., and open source technology.  The classroom tinkerer designs, illustrates, writes, builds, and shares creations made of reused, recycled materials, and Little Bits.

In the video below, Caylon shares the process and design of "The Green Light Bulb," inspired by fireworks.