On March 27th, the maker club started its new programmed robotics unit with the Sphero platform. This week, Jennifer led the girls in some orientation activities to show them how to use the robots. At the next club meeting, the girls will be working their way through several stations, completing different activities with the Spheros (e.g., navigating a maze, bowling, search and rescue in water). Since the club only has eight spheros, the girls were divided into two groups this week. Half of the club worked with Sphero, and the other half started working with felted objects. The two groups will flip and work with the alternate platform in a few weeks. For the group working with felted objects, the club mentors explained how wool fibers pull together when heated, pressed, or manipulated, using the analogy of a shrinking wool sweater. The girls will be manipulating wool with felting needles, pulling their fibers tighter and tighter as they form shapes. Most of the girls are following guides posted on this Web site with step-by-step instructions for felting a wool animal. Next week, there will be no club meeting because the club will be taking a field trip to Washington, DC, for the USA Science and Engineering Festival. Almost the entire club will be traveling to the festival--more than 20 girls.
Comments are closed.
|
Purpose:Dr. Oliver's weekly update of activities in the iNEST Maker Club. Archives
April 2019
|