Computer Programming – Python 6th-9th grade
This camp introduces students from 6th to 9th grade to higher levels of programming, computational thinking, and software development over the course of 5 days. Campers will learn and work with Python, a general-purpose programming language used for developing both desktop and web applications. Python is designed with features to facilitate data analysis and visualization. The curriculum of the camp is designed teach skills that can be applied broadly and purposefully, encouraging students to exercise their problem-solving skills and arrive at their own solutions.
The camp starts with by familiarizing the campers with programming at a high level, explaining how computers “think” and how they execute the software we write. Afterwards, campers are guided to explore programming in Python. The camp is designed to alternate between brief instruction and immediate application with their developed code, thus effectively teaching campers while keeping them engaged. Students will develop their own projects, covering applications like text-based games, complex computations and visualizations, control systems and other applications.
The curriculum covers basic and higher level arithmetic computation, variables, strings, user input, computer output, if-else statements, and loops. Campers are guided and monitored by FRC 2468 team counselors who are well-qualified in programming and instruction, and the camp is led by an Eanes ISD computer science educator.
Lego Robotics/Sphero: 3rd-5th grades
This week-long camp exposes 3rd to 5th grade students to robotics concepts using the Lego EV3 and the Sphero. With the Lego robotics kit, campers will be able to design, build, and program their own robot. While building and designing a robot, campers will learn about and apply technical components such as gears, motors, sensors, and more to construct a fully-functioning robot. With Sphero (a spherical robot that is controlled through a smartphone to perform simple tasks such as moving forward or lighting up), students further explore the programming and functions of a robot.
This year, campers will be following the “Mission to Mars” Lego curriculum to design a robot that allows humans to travel to and live on Mars. The mission-based lessons will progressively teach the campers a variety of STEM concepts as they work to solve the challenges and optimize robot performance. These challenges provide students important skills to solve real-world problems through teamwork, creativity, and innovation. Programming is drag and drop via LabView.
Campers will also utilize Spheros, operating and programming motor encoders, LED lights accelerometers and gyroscopes under numerous coding conditions. Coding for Sphero is done through block-based drag and drop programming, but students can explore the java script behind the blocks. These experiences will foster a love of robotics, coding and STEAM principles.
This camp is led by an educator from Carl Hayden Community High School and the camp counselors are students from Hall of Fame FRC Team 842, Falcon Robotics. Together they provide guidance and facilitate a fun environment to cultivate STEM curiosity in students.
RoBox: Build your own Robot: 3rd – 6th Grades
The RoBox camp is a unique offering for kids from 3rd to 6th grade. In this session, students learn how to construct and program their own robot! The difference from other camps is this is a robot the campers truly build themselves. Based upon an Arduino control board and using Bluetooth low-energy along with a block-based web programming environment, the students will learn basic electronic assembly and robotic control in a fun, fast-paced, project-focused environment. The camp uses online tools to help the students understand and appreciate programming and is structured with mini-competitions to give campers an opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce their newly-learned skills. And at the end of the camp, students have the option to take home their robot! RoBox was designed and programmed by students from Westlake High School and is completely open source – hardware and software – so it can be modified and expanded as the students gain experience.
This camp is led by an Eanes ISD educator and the camp counselors are students from Westlake High School FRC 2468 robotics team. Together they provide guidance and facilitate a fun environment to cultivate STEM curiosity in students.