This February,
Ms. Jeanean Hollen introduced the students in her Fourth and Fifth Grade Computer Labs to computer programming with turtle graphics using the software
Terrapin Logo. Once they mastered the basic concepts, she gave the students the opportunity put their newly acquired programming skills into action using yellow “pro-bots.”
As a culminating
Logo activity, the students worked in teams to write a 20-step computer program to move their turtle graphic around a pre-set area on the screen. When satisfied with the on-screen results, the students transferred their commands to a specially designed “pro-bot” using the numerical keypad on the top of the car. The teams then watched their hard work come to life as the car moved according to their instructions across large squares set up on the floor. “I am really excited about this exercise,” said Mrs. Hollen. ”By applying their knowledge of Logo to the “pro-bots,” the students acquired both confidence and experience in goal setting, problem solving, geometry concepts, and logical reasoning, as well as computer programming skills. And we all had a lot of fun!”
Click here to view a video of the young programmers at work.
