We Broke Out!

Last week, I had the privilege of being with each of the three fifth grade classes for one period.  I really wanted to revisit coding (on quite the Scratch kick right now!) but it's awfully challenging to code when there is a teacher in the room who knows how to code, it's nearly impossible to teach it remotely.

So my next thought was to teach the kids how to create their own BreakoutEDU rooms.  I mean, how cool would that be?!  To design your own virtual escape rooms?!  But then I realized that the kids haven't done a BreakoutEDU all year.

I had to change that.

Sticking with the coding theme, I created accounts for each student with BreakoutEDU (very cool feature, by the way!) and put three different choices in their class library.  It was super simple to set up, and even simpler for the kids to login.  All they have to do when they get to the BreakoutEDU site is click "login with Google Classroom" and they're in!

The concentration in this group was intense!

Then the kids got to pick a partner, and pick a box.  Each partnership (or trio) went into a breakout room in Google Meet (not to be confused with BreakoutEDU!) and worked together to escape.

Like in Scratch, these BreakoutEDU experiences require perseverance, grit, and determination.  I also like that they demand a different way of thinking, that deeper layer of problem-solving needed for puzzles like this.  

I am pleased to say that of the 12 groups, nine of them broke out, and all the other groups got really close!

P.S.  As the teacher/facilitator, it's always helpful to have the games open to provide clues!  Thank goodness for multiple monitors!

Got an itch? SCRATCH it!

Last week (or maybe it was a few weeks ago, with all the snow days I've lost track!) I got to do a workshop with the fifth graders.  We spent 50 glorious minutes with our Chromebooks.  What were we doing, you ask?

We were becoming game-makers.

I know, I know, the school days are already packed with activities and lessons and skills and concepts.  However, I am determined to integrate (or at minimum, fit into) coding skills into the curriculum at all grades.  So, with the understanding that they can use their new-found game-making skill to present their learning in any one of their classes, it was a great day to SCRATCH the game-making itch!

Using the Scratch website we walked step-by-step through creating a simple "tag" game.  Along the way, kids were using a plethora of skills that can always use additional practice....

collaboration ~ communication ~ critical thinking

problem solving ~ creativity ~ perseverance

For those of you saying "Nah, I could never do that!" or "Sounds interesting, but I have no idea how to do that!" guess what?  Scratch has it all set up for you.  As in, you can print step by step direction cards that walk you through the whole thing.  That's what I did!  I literally held the direction cards in my hand and flipped through them as we completed each step.

And you know what?  In 50 minutes, nearly every fifth grader had a working game!  Go check them out!

P.S.  When you, the teacher or facilitator, creates a Scratch account, make sure you sign up as a teacher - then you can see what the kids are doing!

P.P.S.  Working with the younger group?  Check out ScratchJr!