SIXTH GRADERS PILOT PROGRAM FOR GOOGLE
FAMILIES WORK TOGETHER ON SCRATCH JR. PROGRAM
These girls were amazed at what they were able to see using the Google Expeditions app.
SIXTH GRADERS PILOT PROGRAM FOR GOOGLE
Neil Armstrong Middle School was one of 20 Southwest Pennsylvania schools selected by Google to help the company to pilot its Google Expeditions virtual reality app.
Sixth grade students on Team Odyssey in Mr. Romito’ s science and Mrs. Polis’ social studies classrooms were selected to pilot this cutting edge technology, and provide feedback to Google after using the technology, via survey forms that were linked to their Chromebooks.
A Google Project Associate visited NAMS to help the students— who worked in groups of three--to use ASUS Zen Phones with high resolution monitors to scan a QR code that would show them 3D images.
For Mr. Romito’ s science students, the project brought the earth into the classroom as students were able to see inside the Earth, including the ring of fire, to learn about earthquakes. Mr. Romito’ s students used this as a reinforcement and supplement to their study about catastrophic events.
FAMILIES WORK TOGETHER ON SCRATCH JR. PROGRAM
Students were able to see what the earth’ s core looks like to facilitate their study of earthquakes.
Mrs. Polis’ social studies students were able to use the augmented reality technology to view basic landforms such as mountains, hills, plateaus, mesas and buttes. Being able to study these forms from all angles greatly assisted the students with their creation of 3D maps of Asia later on in the unit of study.
Both teachers appreciated the opportunity to bring this cutting edge technology into their classrooms. Mr. Romito called it“ an engaging app for students, helping them to learn in a new way.” He also credited the app for helping him to address the multiple learning styles of his students.
When asked about the technology, the consensus from the students was an overwhelming,“ That is so cool!”
The application process to be selected was extensive, but both Mr. Romito and Mrs. Polis agreed that the time spent to be chosen was well worth their time and efforts. In addition to science and social studies applications, the Google Expeditions app also has lessons for other STEM-related subjects, as well as health and language arts.
ethel Park
BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
William Penn families are learning together, thanks to a program called Scratch Jr!
This year, 11 students and their parents returned to school on Tuesday evenings for four weeks, to enjoy a meal together and then to embark on learning projects with PBS Kids and the Scratch Jr coding program.
The end result of the program was to have each family working together to create an original story on the iPad with Scratch Jr., featuring PBS Kids characters.
Through this active, creative and collaborative learning program, students learned that it’ s OK to make mistakes, and that trial and error is a valuable way to learn. By making mistakes, students learned to persevere and find creative solutions to their problems.
By participating in this program, parents learned to be facilitators, rather than doers for their children, and helped them to develop independence and other essential learning skills.
At the end of the four-week program, the families were able to share their newly created stories with one another. Throughout the four weeks, they also received take-home materials from PBS
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It was great to see children and parents working together to create presentations for the Scratch Jr. Program at William Penn.
that provided them with ideas for crafts and reading that they could do together. This program was possible only through a partnership with local PBS TV station WQED.
Helping to facilitate this program were Laura Huth, Jessica Nachreiner, Jessica Mahoney and Jenna Mansfield.