Using Math and Design Based Thinking to Create: Classes for children, learning to create projects in Scratch Junior or Scratch, using MakeyMakey. These projects can be animations, games, puzzles, simulations. Our approach to learning is design based knowledge construction, and thinking about thinking process. These classes will be tailored to those who are interested. We like working with small. If you are interested in these classes, now or in 2018 please contact us. Susan McPhee, Alan Papert and Sandra Thaxter are the instructors.
Small Solutions has held taught Scratch classes at FRS in previous years. We would like to solicit interest before scheduling. We donate 25% of all church members class fees to FRS. This year we are working on the theme of Re-Imagining the future. Children in Kenya thought about the homes they wanted, how their city should look. These projects could range from imagining the cars of the future, to simulating sea rise or species extinction, to creating games to meet future environmental challenges.
Sandra Thaxter has been working with Scratch for 7 years, Alan Papert had a career as a design engineer and was part of the Turtle Seymour Papert children’s programming research. Susan McPhee is a programmer and enthusiast of Scratch Junior. Contact sandra@smallsolutionsbigideas.org or go to our website for more information http://smallsolutionsbigideas.org
Makey Makey is 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 inbetween:
Scratch and Scratch Junior are a child friendly programming environment developed at the MIT Media Lab. Scratch is an expanding set of tools and programs that connects to MakeyMakey, Lego Robotics, Arduino and Music streaming.
Small Solutions Big Ideas is dedicated to providing children with learning opportunities that expand their thinking and awareness. We are enthusiasts of after-school informal learning environments. We structure each class to adapt to the children signed up. Classes are small 8 to 10 students, and students receive individual attention. We use Scratch programming as an environment for children to build programming skills, but learn how to design complex tasks, such as designing a game, or animating a narrative story, or simulating a natural process. We also use hands on materials and activities to create and design. 3D design is available for students who are interested in that medium.
Small Solutions Education Projects 