Coding Comes Alive: Students Program "Rumble" in Hands-On STEM Initiative
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, NJ — The media center at Greenwich Township School is buzzing with excitement as students dive into the world of computer science through a new hands-on STEM program. Under the guidance of Media Center Specialist/Tech Teacher Ms. Bonnefoi, students across grades K-5 are learning the fundamentals of coding using a variety of interactive educational tools.
A recent photo captured staff member Carol Isaacs assisting student Aaron Jacobson as they worked with the program's star attraction: a coding dinosaur named Rumble. Students are tasked with programming Rumble's movements, learning logic and sequence as they design the dinosaur’s specific path.
We are excited to be able to offer such hands-on, engaging STEM activities for our students. The initiative aims to build computational thinking skills early on through tangible, play-based learning.
The comprehensive K-5 curriculum incorporates several different levels of coding programs tailored to age groups and skill levels:
Rumble the Coding Dinosaur: Used for foundational logic and directional programming. The Coding Dinosaur Rumble is produced by Learning Resources.
Code & Go Robot Mice: Another interactive tool from Learning Resources that reinforces early coding concepts through physical navigation challenges.
Scratch and Code: Older students utilize Scratch, a free, block-based programming language from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that allows users to create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. This is often supplemented by the K-12 curriculum and resources provided by the non-profit Code.org.
This new program provides students with essential 21st-century skills, fostering problem-solving abilities and preparing them for a technology-driven future, all while having fun with robotic mice and dinosaurs.