News from TechTerra
December 6, 2015
Digital Dozen STEM Holiday 2015 Gift Ideas
It’s that time of year when we search for the very best gifts for kids. My Digital Dozen includes interactive digital learning tools for kids 2 to 102. I’ve used each one in my work with students and teachers, and find that they stretch thinking and learning while providing lots of fun. I'd love to know your thoughts on this Digital Dozen. Contact me on Facebook at facebook.com/camptechterra and on Twitter @wellssusan.
Happy Holidays! -- Susan
Osmo
Osmo is hands on. It's a set of iPad games played with real-world pieces, and has a unique stand with a red plastic piece that redirects the iPad's front-facing camera to the game pieces as your child interacts with them on a table or floor. Great for kids 6 and up.
$79-$99
Skyrocket Chocolate Pen
With the Candy Craft Chocolate Pen, you can draw one-of-a-kind delicious shapes made with real confectioners' chocolate, write messages that melt in your mouth, and fill special candy molds with an incredible level of detail and design. Great for kids 6 and up.
$29
Finch Robot
The Finch is a new robot for computer science education. Its design is the result of a four-year study at Carnegie Mellon's CREATE lab. The Finch is designed to support an engaging introduction to the art of programming. It has support for over a dozen programming languages and environments, including several environments appropriate for students as young as eight years old. Great for kids 8 and up.
$99
Sky Viper m200 Nano Drone
At 2.75 inches, the Nano is small enough to hold in the palm of your hand and is suitable for flying both indoors and outside. Great for kids 12 and up.
http://www.skyrockettoys.com/sites/skyviper/index.html
$29
Dash & Dot Robots
Teach kids how to program with Dash and Dot, toy robots that make coding fun using apps on iPads, iPhones, and Android tablets and phones. Great for kids 5 and up.
$149-$279
Crayola Color Alive
With Color Alive, coloring flies off the page with characters that come to life in augmented reality, giving kids an interactive experience and fusing real-world creativity with digital play. Great for kids 4 and up.
http://crayola.daqri.com/coloralive
$6
Makey Makey Invention Kit
An invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It's a simple invention kit for beginners and experts doing art, engineering, and everything in-between.
$49Puzzlets
Puzzlets combines hands-on play with interactive gaming to form one seamless experience, engaging the mind and teaching the player new ways of thinking. Great for kids 6 and up.
http://www.digitaldreamlabs.com
$99
Mattel View-Master VR
This viewer is your portal to immersive, virtual reality adventures that will transport you around the world and beyond. Great for kids 7 and up.
$29
Ozobot Robots
Control Ozobot with color markers by drawing lines and codes for it to explore. Connecting to the tiny robot like a new friend, kids of all ages will mold their own state of play, one line at a time. Great for kids 8 and up.
$59
Tiggly
Tiggly toys have silicone touch points so your tablet reacts to them just like your fingertips. Apps for kids 2-8 are free for Shapes, Numbers, and Words. Great for kids 2 and up.
$29
Sphero SPRK
The Sphero SPRK Edition round robot, making it even easy for teachers, parents, and kids to learn math, robotics, and programming. Great for kids 8 and up.
http://www.sphero.com/education
$129
Hour of Code
Hour of Code is a celebration of coding in conjunction with Computer Science Education Week (December 7 to 13). The one-hour introduction to computer science through block-based coding can be hosted any time, any where. More information about #HourOfCode, CSEdWeek, and computer science and coding in general can be found at https://hourofcode.com/us.
Camp TechTerra Winter and Spring Sesssions
Camp TechTerra offers STEM fun and learning for every season, where students ages 5 to 14 can develop confidence and creativity, bringing together technology and nature to better understand the world around them.
Camp TechTerra Winter 2016 at Pinewoods Montessori
Dec 7: 3-4:30 pm STEM Fun!
Jan 4: 3-4:30 pm STEM Fun!
Feb 1: 3-4:30 pm STEM Fun!
Camp TechTerra Spring 2016 at Pinewoods Montessori
Mar 7: 3-4:30 pm STEM Fun!
Apr 4: 3-4:30 pm STEM Fun!
May 2: 3-4:30 pm STEM Fun!
Camp TechTerra Winter 2016 at Shodor
Dec 3: 4-5:30 pm STEM Fun!
Jan 7: 4-5:30 pm STEM Fun!
Feb 4: 4-5:30 pm STEM Fun!
Camp TechTerra Spring 2016 at Shodor
Mar 3: 4-5:30 pm STEM Fun!
Apr 7: 4-5:30 pm STEM Fun!
May 5: 4-5:30 pm STEM Fun!
Camp TechTerra Summer Registration Now Open
Thinking of Summer Camp in December? We are! This year we have sessions at each of two locations:
EK POWE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
Week 1
6/13/16 to 6/17/16 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Week 2
6/20/16 to 6/24/16 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
PINEWOODS MONTESSORI SCHOOL:
Week 1
7/05/16 to 7/08/16 from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Week 2
7/11/16 to 7/15/16 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Last year we sold out our two weeks at Pinewoods Montessori, so for Summer 2016 we’re providing a second location with two more weeks connecting technology and nature! Registration is now open!
To Register for Any of Our Camps:
camptechterra@gmail.com
919-627-4207
Bring TechTerra to Your School
Educators and Teachers: Learn to Implement Innovative 21st Century Education, using the key 21st Century Skills of creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication, at your school, through Mobile Devices, Makerspaces, Robotics, 3D Printing, Digital Storytelling, and More!
The TechTerra professional development workshop trains and certifies teachers, library and media specialists, technology coaches, and administrators in the Camp TechTerra curriculum and enables them to implement TechTerra learning experiences in their own schools. In addition, the TechTerra Workshop includes pointers on how to fund technology projects at your school through grants, Donors Choose, and other methods.
How will this workshop help your students? Today’s learners value connections and the creative process. They embrace the opportunity to solve real-world problems. The TechTerra training and certification workshop is designed to equip teachers and educators with innovative instructional strategies that engage and invest students in their own learning, positioning them for success in their future endeavors.
About TechTerra
The TechTerra curriculum, inspired and informed by Maker Education and Project Based Learning, was developed by Susan Wells, a national leader in mobile-integrated education and veteran public school educator.
In addition to offering professional development training, Susan Wells’ Camp TechTerra,, held during fall, spring, and summer sessions, offers programs for students ages 5 to 14 that bring together the seemingly disparate elements of technology and nature to help young people better understand the natural world through coding, storytelling, and digital devices.
Contact
Contact Susan Wells at:
919-627-4207
Follow Susan Wells at:
https://www.facebook.com/camptechterra
@camptechterra
@wellssusan
TechTerra, TechTerra Training, and Camp TechTerra are trademarks of Camp TechTerra, LLC.
Copyright (c) 2015 Camp TechTerra, LLC.