Learning Standards:
PK.SCI.1.1 (Inquiry and Curiosity): Campers will develop a habit of asking "why" and "how" things work by exploring the mechanisms of self-driving cars, fostering their natural curiosity.
PK.SCI.2.1 (Exploration and Investigation): Campers will build self-driving cars and test them through hands-on experimentation, engaging in simple experiments and making observations.
PK.ETS1.1 (Engineering Design Process): Campers will follow the basic steps of the engineering design process—Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Improve—to build and refine their self-driving cars, enhancing their problem-solving skills.
PK.ETS2.1 (Understanding Technology): Campers will learn about sensors and motors, gaining a foundational understanding of how technology powers their cars and how different technologies are used in daily life.
PK.SEL.5.1 (Persistence and Resilience): Campers will build resilience by persisting in challenging tasks and learning from trial and error as they iterate on their car designs.
PK.SEL.6.1 (Collaboration and Communication): Campers will work together to solve problems and share their ideas, fostering collaboration and effective communication among peers.
PK.PS2.1 (Physical Science – Force and Motion): Campers will understand how forces affect the movement of their cars and the role of sensors in detecting obstacles through interactive activities.
PK.ARTS.3.1 (Creative Expression): Campers will personalize and decorate their cars, expressing their creativity through hands-on projects.
Physical Computing & Robotic Design
Imagine walking into a world class makerspace where everyday objects, toys, and materials jolt to life, responding, moving, and behaving exactly the way you programmed these robotic inventions too! Come join us as robotic designers as we equip you with physical computing mastery so you can create inventions that think, react, and interact with the world around them. From whimsical toys to clever at-home gadgets, you’ll get to decide what to build, how it should behave, and what problem or experience it’s meant to create. As our talented Masters dive deeper into the connection between the physical and digital world, they’ll explore fundamental program logic and create their toolbox of coding skills to elevate any robotic invention. Every invention is shaped by your camper’s ideas, decisions, and technical creativity. If you could build anything that responds to you, what would you make?
Campers Will:
- Design unique robotic inventions by combining materials, motors, sensors, and structural components into fully functional mechanical systems.
- Program behaviors using various software tools to control how their inventions move, react, and interact with users and their environment.
- Iterate on their designs by testing performance, debugging code, and refining mechanics to achieve the exact behavior they envisioned
Our Goal:
Our goal is to help Masters see themselves as true engineers and creators who can command both code and physical systems to bring ideas to life. As campers move from imagination to execution, they develop confidence in programming, problem-solving, and independent decision-making. By the end, they gain the mindset that they can design, control, and improve any system they set their minds to, a foundational skill for our future innovators.
6/12-6/16
