While computer science (CS) will be in the spotlight this week, know that our students have many opportunities to experience CS throughout the school year. Many elementary schools offer a CS or STEM “special.” Middle school students use using CS skills learned in class for on hands-on projects. At the high school level, students solve real-world problems and explore future careers that involve CS. Schools at every level offer CS and STEM clubs, robotics, and competition teams.
Here are just a few examples of CS activities in our schools this fall…
Centerville ES students in grades 1 and 2 recently completed a Balloons over Broadway project—reading the book, mapping out a parade route, coding a Bee Bot to follow the parade route, creating a balloon float, and holding a Bee Bot parade.
Aided by CAD software, Creekland MS students created a 3-D design for a zombie-proof protective shelter. The students also used CAD and CS programming to code an LED Lightshow.
For Harmony ES’ upcoming science fair, all students are designing creative solutions to real-world problems using technology, programming, robotics, or other CS concepts. Students have designed solutions from home security drones to robots that clean up litter.
A virtual Family AI Night brought together Jones MS students and their families to learn about the school’s AI-Ready initiative and experience programming challenges. (Jones will become part of the new AI-themed Seckinger Cluster next fall.)
Lanier HS students recently used code to build a very cool tower!
At Patrick ES, 2nd graders in the Robotics Club use Coding Mice to create and code their way through mazes.
CyberPatriot teams at Paul Duke STEM HS are putting their CS skills to the test in competition. Teams compete as newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company—finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities while maintaining critical services.
All GCPS schools offer robotics clubs and/or competition teams. Districtwide, teams compete in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Explore (grades 2-3) and Challenge (grades 4-8) divisions, VEX Robotics (grades 6-8), and FIRST Robotics Competition (Grades 9-12). Sugar Hill ES is piloting the district’s first-ever FLL Discovery Team, giving our youngest students (K-1) exposure to problem-solving, collaboration, and computational thinking as well as an opportunity for older children to serve as robotics mentors.
Twin Rivers MS students used Turtle Graphics and the Python programming language to create artwork for a CS-themed coloring book to share the power of programming and computer science with K-5 students in Gwinnett.