The Weekly Update #4

The last book checkout of the school year is next week! ALL library books will be due back to the library on May 26th! Please help your student(s) return their books before the deadline!

We’ve been spending a lot of time learning about Ivy over the past few weeks, and students have really enjoyed it! We’re especially excited for our upcoming author visit with Maureen Harrington on May 29th.

Book order forms were sent home this week for anyone interested in purchasing a signed copy of one or both books—such a special opportunity for our students!

K–2:
Students have been hard at work designing “Evo Towns” for their robots! Working in small groups, they collaborated to plan what features to include in their towns and then coded their robots to navigate through them. Next week, we’re excited to connect all of the towns to create one large city. Students will also begin pairing their robots with iPads to drive and explore their shared community.

Grade 3:
Students have successfully completed their Dash puzzles and are now transitioning to an Evo simulator. They are beginning to learn how Evo robots work and how to code them to navigate a variety of maps and challenges.

Grades 4–5:
Students have been building their keyboarding skills using Typing Club while also exploring the Evo simulator in preparation for their next major project. Soon, they will begin designing their own malls for their robots to navigate. As part of this project, students will create detailed blueprints that consider accessibility and ensure their malls are welcoming and functional for visitors of all ages.

K–1: Students were introduced to Indi cars this week! Indi is a color-reading robot that follows patterns on mats. Students are learning how to code Indi by designing paths and guiding it to different destinations.

Grade 2: Students have been exploring a new robot called Evo, a line-following robot that can be coded using markers. Second graders learned about Evo’s hardware and how it functions. Next week, students will begin designing their own towns for Evo to navigate!

Grade 3: Students are using Blockly to complete Dash puzzles, helping to strengthen their coding and problem-solving skills.

Grades 4–5: Students learned about the Harlem Globetrotters and have begun designing a basketball-themed routine for Dash. They are using the launcher to shoot balls into cups, choreographing dance routines, and even designing jerseys for their robots!

K–1: Students have enjoyed choosing from a variety of building stations, while others have been excited to begin coding with ScratchJr. Next week, we will launch our Book Building Unit. Each read-aloud will be paired with a hands-on building challenge. For example, after listening to Iggy Peck, Architect, students will design and build a bridge connecting one grassy hill (green paper) to another, spanning over water (blue paper).

Grade 2: Students have been exploring our Indi cars! They are fascinated by watching these color-sensing robots navigate paths around the classroom.

Grades 3–5: Students are wrapping up their “Animate a Name” project using Scratch. Through block-based coding, students program the letters of their names to move, change, and interact, building both creativity and foundational coding skills.

K-1: We have been reviewing Scratch Jr. basics & recreating scenes! We also just started to recreate the story "The Mitten." Students will continue to build their coding skills throughout the next few weeks. In the next few weeks, students will be introduced to a robot named Kubo!

2: Second Graders also have been working on Scratch Jr. They have been working with partners to code a favorite picture book. In the next few weeks, students will be introduced to Indi, a color reading robot!

3-5: Students have finished their Lego Floats using the Engineering Design Process! They will be coding them through the "streets" of Walpole this week!

• 3rd: Book Characters
• 4th: Animal Research
• 5th: Elm Street staff member to honor

During book checkout weeks, a student is chosen to create their own book display in the library. The student creates a poster on Canva, and then fills the display with their favorite books.

We have been very busy in the STEM room these last few weeks!

K-1: Students logged into Scratch Jr. for the first time! They are now creating BeeBot disguises and we will have a parade to showcase our work!

2: Second graders are coding Dash!

3-5: Students have started to learn about the Engineering Design Process and discuss what they will be building for their Lego floats.

I am also very excited about our Dash & Design enrichment! 4th and 5th graders have been building different items for Dash (elevators, parking garages, ramps, etc.).

Students in grades 2-5 have also started using Typing Club in the STEM room. Students are required to complete typing assignments with their hands covered. Students have loved this new challenge and we are seeing progress in their typing abilities. If students are using typing programs at home, please encourage your student to have their hands covered.

I cannot believe it is already October! We have had a wonderful start to the school year in the STEM room. We started the year off completing engineering tasks and team building. Students are now learning about coding and have started using some of our Elm robots!

• K-1: Unplugged coding & BeeBots
• 2-5: Unplugged coding, BeeBots & Dash

Students in grades 2-5 have also started using Typing Club in the STEM room. Students are required to complete typing assignments with their hands covered. Students have loved this new challenge and we are seeing progress in their typing abilities. If students are using typing programs at home, please encourage your student to have their hands covered.