Flappy Bird, Uncovered!
0Welcome to Flappy Bird, Uncovered!
We will be visiting "The Science Behind Pixar" exhibit at the Science Museum for our field trip this year. Since this exhibit requires a ticket we will have a raised field trip price of $10 (price changed!). Please send this money with your child any day before the field trip (the sooner, the better). If you have concerns about the price please let one of us know.
We will be visiting "The Science Behind Pixar" exhibit at the Science Museum for our field trip this year. Since this exhibit requires a ticket we will have a raised field trip price of $10 (price changed!). Please send this money with your child any day before the field trip (the sooner, the better). If you have concerns about the price please let one of us know.
Day 1
Students learned how we can take our instructions (algorithms) and change them into something the computer can understand (a program). We made our own algorithms and programs for creating a paper airplane. Then we tested them! We also started working on code.org learning how to solve puzzles using programming.
Students learned how we can take our instructions (algorithms) and change them into something the computer can understand (a program). We made our own algorithms and programs for creating a paper airplane. Then we tested them! We also started working on code.org learning how to solve puzzles using programming.
Day 2
Please note, that the price for the Pixar field trip has changed, and we excited to lower it back to $10 per student. If you have sent the money already, I will send it back home with the student so that we can get the proper amount. If you were planning on sending the money next week please adjust it to $10.
Today we calculated the interior angle of any regular polygon so that we could make our computer draw various shapes. We also continued working with loops to solve puzzles through programming. We also worked through each other's mazes in the room, which really challenged their memory and recall skills. This is now an activity the students can do if they finish their work early.
Please note, that the price for the Pixar field trip has changed, and we excited to lower it back to $10 per student. If you have sent the money already, I will send it back home with the student so that we can get the proper amount. If you were planning on sending the money next week please adjust it to $10.
Today we calculated the interior angle of any regular polygon so that we could make our computer draw various shapes. We also continued working with loops to solve puzzles through programming. We also worked through each other's mazes in the room, which really challenged their memory and recall skills. This is now an activity the students can do if they finish their work early.
Day 3
Today we introduced conditional statements and the commands IF, ELSE IF and ELSE. They learned how to manipulate the program to only perform the action if it has meet the required conditions. We also learned about events within a computer system, which are either "on" or "off". We talked about QR codes and made our own QR code for our initials using a binary alphabet that the computer could understand. Students were also excited to begin working on their own version of Flappy Bird using conditionals and events. You will be able play their own challenging version at the open house.
Also, just as a reminder, the field trip amount for our class has been reduced back down to $10. Please send that instead of the previous amount. If extra was sent with the student, the extra will be sent back with the student (unless it was a check, checks will have to be remade). Thanks!
Today we introduced conditional statements and the commands IF, ELSE IF and ELSE. They learned how to manipulate the program to only perform the action if it has meet the required conditions. We also learned about events within a computer system, which are either "on" or "off". We talked about QR codes and made our own QR code for our initials using a binary alphabet that the computer could understand. Students were also excited to begin working on their own version of Flappy Bird using conditionals and events. You will be able play their own challenging version at the open house.
Also, just as a reminder, the field trip amount for our class has been reduced back down to $10. Please send that instead of the previous amount. If extra was sent with the student, the extra will be sent back with the student (unless it was a check, checks will have to be remade). Thanks!
Day 4
The students continued to refine their flappy bird versions and we continued to making games with more advanced inputs, such as the arrow keys. Students learned to make a character on the screen move or do actions based on the key that was pressed in order to create their own game. We worked on this most of the day to let our creativity flow.
The students continued to refine their flappy bird versions and we continued to making games with more advanced inputs, such as the arrow keys. Students learned to make a character on the screen move or do actions based on the key that was pressed in order to create their own game. We worked on this most of the day to let our creativity flow.
Day 5
The students learned how functions and variables work by exploring how to add all numbers between 1 and 100. We then abstracted the function for 1 and any number using a variable. Ask them to add all numbers between 1 and whatever you want! We then worked on creating our own function using 5 colors and called our function over and over to create our very own edible bracelets. Yum!
The students learned how functions and variables work by exploring how to add all numbers between 1 and 100. We then abstracted the function for 1 and any number using a variable. Ask them to add all numbers between 1 and whatever you want! We then worked on creating our own function using 5 colors and called our function over and over to create our very own edible bracelets. Yum!
Day 6
We enjoyed our time at the Pixar exhibit and learned all about how they make movies out of drawings. There were a lot of very neat hands-on things the students could manipulate to create their own computerized rooms, environments or objects. Afterwards we checked out other neat things in the Science Museum such as the Math Moves exhibit and the new race track where the students were able to race their favorite stars. Be sure to ask them all about it.
We enjoyed our time at the Pixar exhibit and learned all about how they make movies out of drawings. There were a lot of very neat hands-on things the students could manipulate to create their own computerized rooms, environments or objects. Afterwards we checked out other neat things in the Science Museum such as the Math Moves exhibit and the new race track where the students were able to race their favorite stars. Be sure to ask them all about it.
Day 7
Today we learned what exactly the internet is and how it works. The students will continue working through the course on code.org and as they finish that we'll be transitioning to scratch.mit.edu to create our very own games using all of the tools available.
Today we learned what exactly the internet is and how it works. The students will continue working through the course on code.org and as they finish that we'll be transitioning to scratch.mit.edu to create our very own games using all of the tools available.
Day 8 and moving forward
From this point on the students will be finishing course 2 and 3 at their own pace and moving forward with scratch.mit.edu to explore the infinite possibilities at their fingertips. It includes tutorials for various skills, such as making balls bounce on the screen, animating sprites and playing audio files. The goal is to have a workable game of their own design for open house on Thursday. We will see you there!
From this point on the students will be finishing course 2 and 3 at their own pace and moving forward with scratch.mit.edu to explore the infinite possibilities at their fingertips. It includes tutorials for various skills, such as making balls bounce on the screen, animating sprites and playing audio files. The goal is to have a workable game of their own design for open house on Thursday. We will see you there!