Flappy Bird - Student Work
Flappy Bird - Day 12
It was great seeing all of you at the Open House last night. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed teaching Flappy Bird, Uncovered! at Project SEEK. The students have accomplished so much in such a short time. Any student who wishes to continue learning about computer programming has some great options.
These tools have the potential to take students far, helping them learn more than I know about computer programming. It’s just a matter of persistence, creativity, and some problem-solving.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with your child, and have a great summer!
- https://code.org/ - Code.org created the curriculum we’ve been using. A couple of students have completed Course 4 already, but for those that haven’t they can keep working until they master the concepts taught here. (If you’ve forgotten your login information, you can email me.
- https://scratch.mit.edu/ - Scratch was designed at MIT and is a less structured way for kids to use programming blocks to make something. Students can also check out what other students have made and see their code to learn more.
- http://codecombat.com/ - During our class, the students used blockly (pre-made blocks of programming language). Code Combat will teach students how to write in a programming language using correct syntax in a game format. I recommend starting with either Python or Javascript.
These tools have the potential to take students far, helping them learn more than I know about computer programming. It’s just a matter of persistence, creativity, and some problem-solving.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with your child, and have a great summer!
Flappy Bird - Day 11
We had the chance today to see what students in a couple of other SEEK classes have been doing. Everyone has been very busy getting ready for the Open House. In our class, students have learned about for-loops, which are loops defined by a starting and stopping point and increments to increase or decrease a variable. We are looking forward to showing off what we've been working on tonight at the Open House!
Flappy Bird - Day 10
We have been busy again working through Course 3. Some students are already in Course 4. We continue to learn about variables and functions, adding the new concept of parameters. We recalled how the chorus of a song is like a function that we can call in our program. Today we listened to a song with a slight variation each time the chorus was sung. We learned about how that relates to writing a function with parameters that we can define based on our needs.
Students are working at a self-paced rate right now. While we are still completing whole-class, unplugged activities together, students are working on the computers at their own pace. They are very excited to see you at Open House and show you what they've been doing!
Students are working at a self-paced rate right now. While we are still completing whole-class, unplugged activities together, students are working on the computers at their own pace. They are very excited to see you at Open House and show you what they've been doing!
Flappy Bird - Days 8 and 9
Students have been learning a lot of more complex concepts. We played a dice game and practiced translating the game into an algorithm with a loop. We also did a crowdsourcing simulation to sort playing cards by suit and number. We used tangrams to practice algorithms and see the difference between an algorithm with very specific steps and one with more general steps. We also learned more about variables with an envelope variable activity and by playing Mad Libs. Finally, we read a silly fairy tale about a blacksmith and his apprentice who could only understand directions in loops.
If you'd like to experiment more with tangrams, try these sites:
Cyberchase Tangrams
Silvergames Tangrams (more challenging)
If you'd like to experiment more with tangrams, try these sites:
Cyberchase Tangrams
Silvergames Tangrams (more challenging)
Flappy Bird - Days 6 and 7
We had a great time yesterday at the science museum. Today we learned about how the internet actually works, and what crowdsourcing is. We also have lots of pictures to share. This slideshow includes both pictures from the science museum and from our internet simulation.
Field Trip!
Flappy Bird, Uncovered! will be going to the Science Museum of Minnesota for our extended day. We will be focusing on the Math Moves! exhibit to learn about some math concepts that relate to what we are doing with computer code. There is a $10 course fee to help cover the cost of admission and bussing. Students should wear their SEEK shirts and bring a lunch.
Flappy Bird - Day Five
We had a great time day practicing our analytical thinking skills. We started the day doing an activity with scissors. If you ask the kids, I'm sure they would be happy to play with the family at home. Then we spent some time on the chrome books before revisiting conditionals. We also learned how the chorus of a song is like a function in computer code. Finally, we had an activity where kids had to discern the rule I follow to determine if I like something or not (for the activity, not real life). Some of the things I like are hammers, cartoons, spelling, trees, grass, rabbits, summer, Minnesota, pizza, dollar bills, Miss Piggy, walls, floors, and swimming. Can you figure out whether I like cool weather or hot weather?
Flappy Bird - Days Three and Four
Yesterday we learned about conditional statements in computer programming (if-then statements). We also learned about the binary number system.
Today we focused on events and used them to program our own versions of Flappy Bird. We can't wait to show them off at the Open House next week. We also talked about digital footprints, including what is okay or not okay to share online and the importance of having a POSITIVE digital footprint. Finally, we made edible bracelets to learn about functions. It was a very busy day.
Today we focused on events and used them to program our own versions of Flappy Bird. We can't wait to show them off at the Open House next week. We also talked about digital footprints, including what is okay or not okay to share online and the importance of having a POSITIVE digital footprint. Finally, we made edible bracelets to learn about functions. It was a very busy day.
Flappy Bird - Day Two
Today we're learning about loops! Students are starting to use them to program more complex things. Here's face that Connor made.
Here's another drawing created by Connor.
Here's another drawing created by Connor.
Welcome to Flappy Bird, Uncovered!
We've completed Day 1! Today students learned about algorithms and did an important review of angles. They also created paper airplanes - following an algorithm. Congratulations to Cadin, our paper airplane champion, whose airplane flew the farthest.