CS Summer of Fun 2025

CS Discoveries is an introductory computer science course for students in grades 6 - 10 that empowers students to create authentic artifacts and engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun. Participants will be introduced to coding in javascript to create an animation artifact.  The project options are open-ended, and students can demonstrate knowledge across the curriculum.  

The target audience for this activity is middle school students studying physical science. There are ways to differentiate this material, allowing the activity to be used with novice, intermediate, and advanced groupings. This activity is a hands-on workshop and involves programming the micro:bit to test acceleration. You can attach the micro:bit to any object (coaster cars, and other toys will be provided for you to test) and use the data logger extension provided by Micro:bit, to determine the acceleration of your object. The program is written in block coding and will graph x, y, and z coordinates. After completing this activity, we will analyze the graphs created and formulate a claim, provide evidence, and justify our reasoning. Extensions using Sphero Bolts and LEGO BricQ will be an options to mess around with as well. 

Micro:bits, toys to attach Micro:bit to, and adaptors will be provided.  Come have a fun time messing around!

Description:Tinkercad is a fantastic web-based app teachers and students can utilize to create CAD drawings and output them to a 3D printer. It's also a great tool for teaching electronics and coding - from basic circuits through coding virtual Arduinos and MicroBits. Join us for everything you need to know - from setting up student accounts to a step-by-step experience on how to utilize this tool in the classroom. There will be plenty of time for experimentation. For those with some Tinkercad experience, here's a chance to take things to the next level - with answers in ideas you can utilize in the fall!Target Audience:Everyone from beginners (who are experienced in using their device but new to Tinkercad) all the way up to the experts. Session Format: Workshop - a series of brief show-and-tell presentations with time to try things out.(Please let me know if anything needs additional information.)

Bring creativity and computational thinking into your classroom with Keynote! In this hands-on session, educators will learn how to use Keynote’s shapes and animation tools to create engaging, subject-specific animated GIFs. Participants will explore how computational thinking—decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking—can enhance learning in social studies, ELA, and science. From illustrating historical events and visualizing scientific processes to animating story elements, educators will design GIFs that make abstract concepts more concrete. No prior animation experience is needed—just a willingness to explore and create! By the end of the session, participants will leave with ready-to-use classroom examples and the skills to guide students in making their own educational animations.

Join us for an engaging hands-on workshop where you'll discover the magic of creating interactive projects with the Micro:bit microcontroller. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some coding experience, you'll learn how to write simple JavaScript code using a visual block-based editor that makes programming accessible and fun. Together, we'll explore how to use the Micro:bit's built-in sensors and LED display to create engaging projects like virtual pets that respond to motion and light, smart security systems that detect when a door opens, and automated lighting controls that respond to environmental conditions.  You’ll leave with the confidence to guide students in creating meaningful projects that combine coding, electronics, and creative problem-solving.BRING YOUR LAPTOP DEVICE!

Introduction to Edison robots. Educators will learn how to use Edison robots and be given a chance to try coding them and completing simple tasks. This workshop is hands on with access to lessons already created.

The target audience for this session is middle school science/STEM teachers. The intended level is intermediate to advanced due to the science content standards. The session format is a hands-on workshop. 

Students graph data using Lego Spike Prime kits; they build several devices to visualize energy through graphing data. From Lego - “In this unit, your students will construct, analyze, and/or interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships between types of energy (i.e., metabolic, potential, and kinetic) and an object's acceleration. Developing models to illustrate the amount of energy stored in a system, they'll practice finding mathematical relations and play with statistics and probability to find answers to a scientific question. In doing so, your students must consider the limitations of data analysis (e.g., measurement error) and/or seek to improve the precision and accuracy of data using better technological tools and methods (e.g., multiple trials).”

The lessons are: 1. Stretch the Data: Match graph values and explore margins of error qualitatively. 2. This is Uphill: Graph energy consumption to gain potential energy. 3. Time for Squat Jumps: Graph potential energy at the maximum height of a jump. 4. Watch Your Steps: Explore kinetic energy during a movement at a constant speed. 5. Aim for It: Explore kinetic energy during a movement using variable speed. 6. The Obstacle Course: Illustrate potential and kinetic energy transfer. 

Lessons are aligned to NGSS, CSTA, and ISTE standards. Come and play to learn!

Join us for an engaging hands-on workshop where you'll discover the magic of creating interactive projects with the Micro:bit microcontroller. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some coding experience, you'll learn how to write simple JavaScript code using a visual block-based editor that makes programming accessible and fun. Together, we'll explore how to use the Micro:bit's built-in sensors and LED display to create engaging projects like virtual pets that respond to motion and light, smart security systems that detect when a door opens, and automated lighting controls that respond to environmental conditions.  You’ll leave with the confidence to guide students in creating meaningful projects that combine coding, electronics, and creative problem-solving.BRING YOUR LAPTOP DEVICE!

Your calculator is not just for math class anymore!  Come learn how you can code on your calculator.  No experience needed.  If you can read, you can code!  This hands on workshop is designed for educators who would like to learn how to incorporate coding in their 5-12 classrooms, in after school STEM clubs, summer camps, you name it!  We will work through several different coding activities that will bring your classroom to life.  These activities increase student engagement ~ they'll never want to leave your class!

A hands on session for participants to use computer science tools (example Makey Makeys, Coding with Scratch, Chorme Music lab, Soundtrap ect.) to directly connect to what they are already teaching in their music classrooms or how they can incorporate music and technology in to other disciplines to collaborate and enhance learning opportunities.  This session is for all novice - intermediate skill levels.  Participants will get to create their own project as well as discuss other projects that could be used for students to show understanding of their curriculum. The main grade level focus is Middle School Grades 6-8 but some of these can also be applicable for elementary students grades 3-5.

Looking to bring science and technology alive in your classroom?  A Micro:bit is a tiny, friendly computer that fits in your palm, packed with sensors to detect light, sound, motion and magnetic fields. Programming is simple and intuitive, perfect for beginners. During the workshop, you'll explore engaging experiments and have time to build a small project. This workshop is perfect for teachers in any subject area, especially those new to coding. 

Using Code.org curriculum materials this hands-on workshop session will cover AI & Machine Learning (AI/ML). Main topics and learning outcomes are: understanding fundamental AI/ML concepts and their real-world applications, designing hands-on, age-appropriate AI activities that promote critical thinking, exploring ethical considerations, including bias, privacy, and the societal impact of AI.

This lesson integrates Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet—a story about Tony Sarg and the creation of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons—with hands-on activities using LEGO kits, computer science (CS)/computational thinking (CT), and social studies (SS) standards.By integrating LEGO kits, computational thinking, and social studies, this lesson engages students in a hands-on exploration of history, engineering, and teamwork. It’s a fun, collaborative way to demonstrate the relevance of CS and SS in real-world applications!2nd-8th grade. Hands-on learning experience for beginners. 

In this session, we'll explore micro:bits new platform createai.microbit.org where users can build machine learning models using micro:bit sensor data. 

This hands-on workshop equips educators with the tools and confidence to integrate computer science into life science curricula using the micro:bit Smart Agriculture Kit. Participants will explore how to engage students in real-world applications of coding and data collection through the lens of sustainable farming and environmental monitoring. Across two interactive sessions, educators will receive foundational training in micro:bit programming using MakeCode. Participants will then learn how to operate smart agriculture sensors and design lessons that blend life science concepts with coding challenges. The workshop emphasizes strategies for inquiry-based learning, project design, and differentiation, empowering teachers to create lessons where students simulate precision agriculture systems, automate processes, and interpret environmental data. To support classroom implementation, loaner sensor kits and micro:bits will be available for participating teachers to bring back to their schools.

Looking for a hands-on way to boost student engagement? This session explores how Makey Makeys and Scratch can transform traditional projects into interactive learning experiences. Designed for educators and tech integrators working with upper elementary (grades 4-5) and middle school students, this session accommodates a range of computer science knowledge levels, from novice to intermediate. Whether you’re new to Makey Makeys or are looking for fresh ideas, you’ll leave with practical strategies for integrating these tools into your classroom. We’ll start with an overview of how students can create self-presenting posters using Makey Makeys and Scratch. Students research a topic, use their organizer as a script, record themselves sharing information beyond the information provided on the poster, and then program their posters to respond to touch. Past topics have included natural disasters, the water cycle, the rock cycle, and the layers of the earth, but this approach can be applied to any subject. Once they understand the fundamentals, students can explore additional creative applications of Makey Makey and Scratch beyond self-presenting posters. Following the presentation, participants will have time to experiment with the technology and brainstorm ways to implement it. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to introduce Makey Makey into your teaching, sparking creativity and engagement in your students.

In today's interconnected world, teaching students about cybersecurity and digital literacy is as essential as traditional subjects. This 3-hour workshop equips educators with the knowledge and resources to effectively teach cyber safety and responsible digital citizenship.This hands-on workshop transforms complex cybersecurity concepts into engaging, age-appropriate lessons for upper elementary and middle school students. Participants will receive ready-to-use teaching materials, lesson plans, and interactive activities designed to promote digital literacy and online safety awareness.

Target audience: classroom educators, homeschool educators, informal/afterschool/out-of-school educators  Grade 3 and up, Ages 8 and upIntended level: novice, intermediateSession format: workshopContent Description: In today’s rapidly evolving world, AI is shaping the future of education, careers, and society. This hands-on, engaging workshop is designed to equip educators with the foundational knowledge and tools needed to teach AI literacy in the classroom. Educators will gain a deep understanding of AI's core concepts, history, and future potential, empowering them to foster critical thinking and ethical decision-making about AI among their youth.The workshop is centered around three key pillars:Understanding AI: Participants will explore the fundamentals of AI, from its history to its potential future developments, gaining a solid grasp of the technology’s role in today’s world.Using AI: Educators will develop practical skills to use AI tools safely and responsibly, alongside building data literacy to empower youth to interact with AI effectively.Evaluating AI: Through collaborative discussions and activities, educators will learn how to help youth critically assess the ethics, impact, and reliability of AI systems.By the end of the workshop, educators will be equipped to integrate AI literacy into their teaching with lessons, videos, and tools to inspire innovation in their educational setting, and prepare youth for a future where AI plays an ever-increasing role. Join us in shaping the next generation of AI-literate youth, ready to thrive and contribute to an AI-driven world.