Presentation Day, Round 2!

After completing our second round of rotations within our design teams, we now have some new projects to show off. To see our hard work, please watch our videos at the links below:

Wonderful World of Sphero

Gamifying Scratch

Virtual Reality with Google Cardboard

House of Little Bits

Lego Robotics Dragon Scene

Google Cardboard and Unity

Kano Computer and Programming Games

Nature Rocks by Jake Mi.

Nature influences technology in many different ways and I am about to tell you why. First, trees help us because it supplies paper so we can put structure on our creations to hold it up in place. Next, if you don't want to use fabric and be super creative then the soft pedals of a flower are similar and are pretty and add a little special touch to the thing that you made. Lastly, if you want to glue some rocks together as the border and a lot of legos inside it then it would look like the rocks are moving by itself. Nature is definitely an amazing way to influence technology!

Inspiration is Everywhere by Ellite

I feel that nature influences technology by inspiring others. Sometimes when others look at nature they are inspired and creative ideas start to grow inside of them. For instance, when I look at a flower, I see beauty. Maybe I can incorporate that beauty into something amazing in technology. Nature is a huge part of the world and we can use it for many things, including inspiration. Maybe the prettiness of nature can make you want to show the beauty of it by putting it into action. Examples of this include capturing the times when flowers blossom or how trees grow, or maybe how the fruit on trees grow. People can take those things and make videos capturing those exact moments. Nature is beautiful and we can use it in many ways to inspire technology.

Where Nature and Technolgy Combine By Daniel

In the virtual reality video that I watched today using google cardboard, I learned about nature. As the video stated, nature influences technology. For example, we got the idea of flight from birds. I think  nature influences technology because when the air is thin humans have oxygen tanks so that we can breathe. The oxygen comes from trees. How do you think nature influences technology?

Nature is Inspiriting Our Industrial Future by Logan

I think technology influences nature because about every year a new species is found in nature just like technology keeps on getting more advanced. Nature also influences technology because nature is really big and so is technology.  There are tons of different kinds of technology and nature has so many species. Nature influences technology in many ways.

Presentation Day!

Our design teams have finished their first set of rotations in our technology exploratory. They have created some amazing projects! Prior to presenting, we reviewed "best presentation practices". We discussed the importance of eye contact, voice projection, placement of hands and feet, and the importance of practice. It was our first time to present as a design team and we can tell that we are learning how well we can work together as a team. We hope you enjoy our innovations:

Can Sphero dance to The Nutcracker?

How can you build a bear to program with Hummingbird?

Can you travel the world with virtual reality?

Can you use drop and drag programming to create a game?

Do Lego robotic animals have good hygiene?

Is it possible to turn lights on and off with the snap of your fingers?

How do you build an oculus? 

Is it possible to have a virtual dance party with Scratch?

Another Dimension by Jack

My design team is using Google Cardboard. Google Cardboard makes you feel like you're in another dimension. There are also other groups like Lego robotics. In Lego robotics, you build, program, and destroy. We are excited to travel among different technology tools!

Self-Portraits by Vivian

Right now we are in the middle of creating self portraits. We are using an online sketchpad that has all kinds of shapes and colors. Than we will post them on a Padlet as a Guess Who? icebreaker. Thanks for reading!

Masters of Our Own Creativity by Mrs. Brown

We have made some of the greatest inventions this quarter. Through a design process that included teamwork, building, and programming, we learned by creating. We presented our projects as a class and hope that you will take the time to enjoy them too. Here are short clips of our creations:

LittleBits Oven by Reese and Hannah

Electric House by Ella, Maggie, and Jaclyn

The Tank by Jackson and Jake

The Dancing Zoo by Katie and Lia

School Supply Vending Machine by Sarah and Jack

Sphero by Caleb and Carson

Sphero by Rebecca and Ava

Video Games with Kano by Max and Dawson

Underwater with Scratch by Jamie and Maya

Dog Ranking Website with Kano by Mick and Connor

Going Above and Beyond By: Ella

In Technology this week, my group is doing the Hummingbird kit. If you have ever seen the Hummingbird kit, you will notice that the programming portion looks terribly hard. Our group is making a house out of cardboard and programming certain parts such as the lamps with the LEDs, a fan with the sensors, and more creative stuff.  My group and I have worked very hard to accomplish this rotation. All of the wiring having to do with programming is tough but our group makes it look easy. We have worked so hard and our work has really payed off! 

Presentation Day, Round One

I am so proud of all of our innovators! We had a great first round of presentations. The creativity was limitless. From a Life Hacks website for kids to a Lego robotics amusement park to being the first to work with the Little Bits Wireless Boost pack, we saw dynamic design teams at work. For a look at our creations firsthand, we invite you to check out our short videos highlighting our projects:

The Amusement Park by Dawson and Max

The Moveable Dog by Lia and Katie

Remote Controlled Rabbit by Jamie and Maya

Kano and Life Hacks Website by Jack and Sarah

Flipping Out with Sphero by Jake and Jackson

Ice Cream Truck by Reese and Hannah

Sphero by Connor and Mick

Atlanta Attractions by Jaclyn, Maggie, and Ella

Flavored Drink Machine by Ava and Rebecca

Helicopter by Carson and Caleb

Last Preparations Before Round One of Presentations by Hannah

Today, we are actually getting ready to wrap up our technology projects. Later today we are going to present our projects. Everyone in 4A has worked so hard. We are so excited to see all of the creative projects we have made!  Everyone made different and unique projects. For example, two girls in our class are using Little Bits and they are making a dog and the dog's nose moves and the dog's eyes light up. Another group in our class actually got a computer kit and they got to program the computer. They will all be so amazing!

Making Magic by Sara

This week everyone started making their projects. Some of the Lego groups are making Lego cars, or Legos that can move in circles. In the Kano group, they are making a website called socialsnapping.com. Also, in one of the Little Bits groups there are people making a dog that will sense you coming. Another Lego group is making a scary lion that will pounce at you. One of the Scratch groups is making Atlanta with a few of the wonderful landmarks. Lastly,  a hummingbird group is trying to make a milkshake/smoothie machine. We've had a great week!

Presentation Day, Round Two!

As we are wrapping up our second rotation in Programming and Robotics, we are starting to present our inventive creations.  Some of the ideas came from something as simple as the shape of a piece of nearby cardboard while others were inspired by favorite family trips.  We hope you enjoy learning about our designs:

Computer with Little Bits by Megan and Megan

Breakdancing with Scratch by Avery and Justin

Kano Computer Kit with Eran and Matan

Telling Time with LittleBits with Jack and Justin

Hanukkah Bush by Sammy and Isaac

Kano Computer Kit with Maddie and Miriam

Sphero Disco Ball with Eva and Emily

Lego City by Brooke and Sophie

New York City in Legos by Maya and Jamie

Sphero Obstacle Course with Jack and Adam

Bringing Ideas to Life by Megan D.

We love technology!!
We are having lots of fun making computers, programming Spheros, and doing Lego robotics. My group is having an awesome time telling our Sphero what to do. Emily and I are making a super fun disco party for our Sphero robot. The Kano computer group is programming games like Snake and Pong. The Lego robotics group is making a working New York City.

Blogging, Inventing, Building by Megan S.

I am the blogger for this week. Last week we all got our new projects assigned  and we are all working on them right now. We all are working hard to build our new project. I am working on Little Bits with my partner this week.  My partner and I are making a helicopter with the Little Bits. We all have so much fun in technology!

Presentation Day, Round One!

Below you will find the links to our first round of presentations using our various technology tools that include LittleBits, Kano computer kits, Scratch software, Lego robotics, Sphero, and the Hummingbird Robotic kits.  Each of our design teams had a rubric to guide us in our creations.  We hope you enjoy our presentations:

Kano by Emily and Ava 

The Ferry Boat by Miriam and Maddie

Rescue Boat by Adam and Jack

The Flying Bird by Sammy and Isaac

Kano by Jack and Justin

Sphero House by Maya and Jamie

Lego Parrot by Megan and Megan

The Cannon by Brooke and Sophie

Disco Ball by Avery and Justin

Scratch by Matan and Eran

Fun with Technology by Isaac

We are making a lot of creations.  Some projects that we are doing are Sphero, which is a ball that you can control with an ipad. Also, there is Hummingbird robotics kit, which is made up of LEDs, vibration sensors, and motion sensors where you make things light up and move. Next, there is Kano computer kit in which you can code a computer. Finally, there is Lego robotics where you guessed it, you make robots out of Legos.

Technical Difficulties by Adam

Today we are fixing up our robots and programs and getting ready to present. Some of our class is done. We only have one more day till we present our projects.

I am making a robot that can be a secret entrance to a boat or spy's base. What inspired me to make it is that I like to spy on my brother. We are having technical difficulties. We are programming it to slow down but it is not working. So we are still trying. Trust me, it is hard.

Creative Thinkers at Work by Jamie

Today in 4th grade technology we are continuing working on our projects. I am currently working with the sphero. I'm making an obstacle house for my sphero so I can program it to do all the obstacles. Meanwhile other groups are working on different things. Like Avery and Justin they are working on the hummingbird kit to make a tickler to cheer you up if your'e sad.

First Week by Matan

This is our first week in technology. We are starting to work on our creations. It is a lot of fun. In technology class we have jobs, I am the blogger. We just got a Kano computer kit. I will write again soon.

Presentation Day 2, Round 2

Today we wrapped up our final presentations and ended with a discussion reflecting on our challenges, our strengths, and working together as a design team.   Overall, the consensus was that we liked the tools that allowed us to also design with our hands.  LittleBits and Hummingbird lend themselves to building and programming, which was most fun for many.  We hope you enjoy our final round of presentations:


Magical with Scratch by Gavin & Jackson


Snowy the Snowman by Jessica & Jenna


iWalkie by Sarah & Kiera

Presentation Day One, Round 2

Unbelievably, time is really flying by in our Robotics and Programming Exploratory.  Below you will find excerpts from our presentations in which students share what they created in their design teams for their second round using a different set of technology tools.  We hope you enjoy the show:

Dr. Failure Part 2 by Kelly & Jacob

Helicopter with Little Bits by Adi & Benjamin

Mr. Sphero with 29 Commands by Leah & Carly

Nori Obstacle Course with Noah & Ori

Decapitated Robot by Zach & Jonathon

Gingerbread Man with Hummingbird Robotics by Caitlyn & Liv

Colorful iPod TV by Emily and Leah