Did you know Ozobots are a great way to teach English Language Arts (ELA) lessons and other subjects beyond coding and computer science? While STEAM focuses on problem-solving and critical thinking skills, there is often a misconception these skills apply only to science and math subjects. The reality is quite the opposite. ELA and Social Studies subjects provide valuable critical thinking abilities too!  

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top 5 ELA lessons in Ozobot Classroom to get you excited about using Ozobot and robotics to teach literacy for Read Across America Day and year-round! As the National Education Association says, reading is always in season! 

Read on to discover these highly engaging STEAM activities and challenges your students will love.

Meet Ozzie the Ozobot!

• Grades: Pre-K – 3
• Coding Method: Color Codes

Start with the basics! Our most popular ELA lesson in Ozobot Classroom features a story with ‘Ozzie,’ the Ozobot, to demonstrate the basics of color coding with markers. Created for Pre-K to third-grade students, this lesson is a perfect introduction to Ozobot and coding. Additionally, there are four challenges in using Color Codes that are differentiated to fit your class’s needs.

Write Your Name With Color Codes

• Grades: K-2
• Coding Method: Color Codes 

In this top ELA lesson, K to second-grade students can practice their line and code drawing skills by turning their first name into a track for their Ozobot to travel across using line jumps. This lesson tasks students with writing the letters of their names very clearly and placing Color Codes to help Evo walk from the beginning of the first letter to the end of the last letter.

Navigating Around Town

• Grades: 3-8
• Coding Methods: Color Codes, Ozobot Blockly 

Is your class already familiar with Color Codes and Ozobot Blockly? This lesson is for you! In ‘Navigating Around Town,’ students will program their Ozobot to navigate lines and intersections around a map to successfully complete a list of errands. Ideal for grades 3-8, students will learn and develop a better understanding of line navigation and measurements. 

Scaredy Squirrel Ozobot Coding

• Grades: K-5
• Coding Methods: Color Codes

In this literacy-driven STEAM lesson, K-5 students will code their Ozobot with Color Codes to travel a specific path and complete tasks related to the book, ‘Scaredy Squirrel,’ by Melanie Watt. This resource includes four ready-to-go worksheets that can be used to introduce or reinforce using Color Codes with Ozobot. Challenging and fun!

Ozobot’s Fairytale Lesson 1 & Ozobot’s Fairytale Lesson 2

• Grades: 2-12
• Coding Methods: Ozobot Blockly 

Who doesn’t love a two-part ELA lesson? Not us! In this mini-lesson series, students will connect writing and programming using Ozobot Blockly. In part one, students will “act out” a fairytale using Ozobot as the main character and program the bot to complete a task or engage in a behavior related to the story. In part two, students will outline a fairytale and program Ozobot to tell the story. 

Find more ELA lessons and inspiration for your classroom today in Ozobot Classroom!

The post Top 5 ELA Lessons to Celebrate Read Across America Day appeared first on Ozobot.

Understanding Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is a centuries old celebration marking the beginning of the lunar calendar. The festival is a time for families to come together, honor ancestors, and welcome the coming year with joy and prosperity. Each year is associated with an animal from the Chinese zodiac, and 2024 is celebrated as the Year of the Dragon. This Lunar New Year begins on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Why Students Should Learn About Lunar New Year

Integrating Lunar New Year into STEM/STEAM education offers students a unique opportunity to explore diverse cultures while enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By understanding the cultural significance and traditions associated with the festival, students gain a broader perspective and a deeper appreciation for global diversity.

Ozobot’s Lunar New Year STEM Lesson

Just in time to kick off the celebration, our most-loved Lunar New Year STEM lesson has been recently updated with new activity sheets and a helpful video lesson supplement, designed to captivate students’ interest and immerse them in the festivities. The Ozobot Lunar New Year Red Envelope Adventure introduces coding concepts in a fun and interactive way using Color Codes, allowing students to program their Evo robots to navigate through a series of challenges inspired by Lunar New Year traditions.

In this lesson, students will embark on a journey to deliver red envelopes, a symbol of good luck and prosperity in many Asian cultures. Each red envelope contains an amount of money and at the end of the activity, students will calculate how much money was collected during the adventure. 

As they code Ozobot to navigate through the challenges, students will learn fundamental coding skills and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of Lunar New Year.

Benefits of STEM Learning:

• Coding Exploration: Students engage in hands-on coding activities that build their problem-solving and Computer Science skills. 
• Cultural Appreciation: The lesson promotes cultural awareness and understanding through the celebration of Lunar New Year traditions.
• Interactive Learning: Students actively participate and collaborate with peers in this exciting activity, learning about a global cultural event through a STEM perspective.

Time to celebrate!

As educators seek innovative ways to introduce STEM concepts in a culturally relevant context, Ozobot’s Lunar New Year Red Envelope Adventure stands out as an exciting and educational resource. By embracing the festivities of Lunar New Year, students not only learn valuable STEM skills but also cultivate an appreciation for diverse traditions that enrich their global perspective.

Explore the Lunar New Year Red Envelope Adventure in Ozobot Classroom and empower your students to code, learn, and celebrate the Year of the Dragon in 2024! Share your creations with us by tagging @ozobot and #ozobot.

The post Engage Students in the Classroom with an Exciting Lunar New Year STEM Lesson appeared first on Ozobot.

These lessons are designed for all educators and students; no coding or CS experience needed. They’re the perfect place to start if:

• You’re looking to build foundational CS skills
• You want an introduction to Ozobot basics, before moving on to content-integrated Ozobot lessons in math, ELA, science, and more

Introduction to Color Codes 01: Basic Training

Grades: K-12

Computer Science 

Students will discover the basics about how to use Evo: turning on/off, calibrating, drawing lines, and programming with Color Codes.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 02: Speed

Grades: K-12

Computer Science 

Students will learn how to draw Color Codes to program Evo to change speed.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 03: Special Moves and Win

Grades: K-12

Computer Science 

Students will learn how to draw Color Codes to program Evo to complete special moves.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 04: Direction

Grades: K-12

Computer Science 

Students will explore the random choice Evo makes at intersections when not programmed to turn a certain direction. They will also program their bot to turn a specific direction at intersections and gain experience using u-turn codes.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 05: Skills Check 1 (Grades K-2)

Grades: K-2

Computer Science 

Students check their understanding of using Color Codes to program their bot to move in a set direction, change speed or complete a special move to show the actions in a sentence.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 05: Skills Check 1 (Grades 3-5)

Grades: 3-5

Computer Science 

Students check their understanding of using Color Codes to program their bot to move in set directions, change speed, and complete special moves to show a sequence of events and move through a maze.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 06: Timers

Grades: 2-12

Computer Science 

Students will learn Color Codes to program Evo to run and stop following a timer.  They will also observe how speed and time are related when programming their bot to complete a task.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 07: Line Switch 

Grades: 2-12

Computer Science 

Students will learn Color Codes to program Evo to move in a set sequence to and from multiple lines that are not connected.

View Lesson →

Introduction to Color Codes 08: Counters

Grades: 3-12

Computer Science 

Students will learn Color Codes to program Evo to count three things: intersections, turns at intersections, and changes in path color. Students will also learn how to use the Point Counter Color Codes.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 09: Skills Check 2 (Grades K-2)

Grades: K-2

Computer Science 

Students apply their understanding of Timers and Line Switch Color Codes to program Evo to complete a scavenger hunt.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 09: Skills Check 2 (Grades 3-5)

Grades: 3-5

Computer Science 

Students check their understanding of using Color Codes to program their bot to run on a timer and switch lines to mimic playing soccer and scoring a goal.

View Lesson → 

Introduction to Color Codes 09: Skills Check 2 (Grades 6-12)

Grades: 6-12

Computer Science 

Students will use the Timer, Speed, and Line Switch Color Codes to complete a maze of disconnected lines in less than thirty seconds. As an optional extension, students will use the Point Counter Color Codes to solve a number puzzle.

View Lesson → 

The post Introduction to Color Codes: Video Lessons appeared first on Ozobot.

Read on for a full list: 

Kindergarten – Meet Ozzie the Ozobot

This lesson is perfect for kindergarteners to use as an introduction to Ozobot and coding. Ozzie the Ozobot is a children’s story introducing Evo and all it can do! Throughout the lesson, there are four challenges that are differentiated to fit your class’s needs. Try it out! 

First Grade – Balloons Over Broadway – But Better 

After reading the biography Balloons over Broadway, students will design their own Macy’s Day Parade-inspired balloons using balloons, markers, and other materials. Students will then show off their balloons by attaching them to Evo using line following! 

Second Grade – Silly Sentences

In this lesson, students will use Color Codes and Evo to randomly choose nouns and verbs as a foundation for a simple silly sentence. Students will then choose other words to complete a second silly sentence.

Third Grade – Ozobot’s Fairytale  

This lesson combines programming and literature to create the perfect in-class activity. Students will use Evo to “act out” a fairytale using Ozobot Blockly. 

Fourth Grade – Ozobot’s Day of Similes

Students will come up with a word to complete commonly used similes to describe Evo’s day and use Color Codes to program their bot to demonstrate the similes. This is a great lesson for fourth graders to practice literacy and coding! 

Fifth Grade – Conjunctions by Chance

Students will use Evo to randomly choose words on the Conjunctions by Chance Map and identify the word as a preposition, noun, or adjective. Students will then write a sentence using the word. 

Sixth through Eighth Grade – Random Story Generator

In this activity, students will learn how computers generate random numbers using Ozobot Blocky. They will then write a fun story using random words that Evo chose.

For more lessons, check out Ozobot Classroom! 

The post Evo’s Top ELA Lessons appeared first on Ozobot.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite winter sport activities and lessons to help get your students excited about the Winter Games and also engage them in hands-on STEAM challenges with Evo. Using Color Codes and Ozobot Blockly, students can learn about a variety of sporting events while developing computer science, critical thinking and engineering skills as they create, collaborate and execute their creations. 

These festive activities are sure to be a classroom favorite!

Winter Games: Ozobot Edition 

Grades: 4-12 

Coding Methods: Color Codes, Ozobot Blockly 

If you’re searching for a complete Winter Games experience, this lesson is for you. Packed with challenges and activities to engage students for days, this multi-lesson series includes several sporting events and activities ranging from the opening and closing ceremonies to curling, alpine skiing, figure skating, bobsledding and more! Ideal for grades 4 and up, these lessons are the perfect way to connect the Olympic events to your classroom through STEAM.

Curling Challenge 

Grades: K-12

Coding Method: Ozobot Blockly

Curling meets CS. Curling is an Olympic game where two teams take turns sliding granite stones toward a target. In this STEM challenge, students will construct an attachment for Evo and build a program in Ozobot Blockly to move the curling stones toward the goal to get points. Through trial and error, students will persist in iterating their programs until they get their curling stones to the target. They can also compete with other students to see how many points they can score in a certain amount of time. 

Slalom Snow Skiing Game

Grades: K-12

Coding Method: Ozobot Blockly 

For a quick, yet engaging, winter game activity, the Slalom Snow Skiing Game is perfect to add to your CS lesson plans. Slalom snow skiing is the shortest form of alpine skiing and involves competitors skiing between sets of poles – known as gates – that are spaced apart at a certain distance.  In this lesson, students will build programs in Ozobot Blockly to guide Evo down a slalom snow ski course in order to reach the finish line in the shortest amount of time. This activity will demonstrate how hardware (Evo’s proximity sensors) and software (Ozobot Blockly) work together as a system to complete a task. 

Find more lessons and inspiration for your classroom today in Ozobot Classroom!

The post 3 Fun STEAM Lessons to Celebrate the Winter Games appeared first on Ozobot.

An Intuitive Dashboard

Your Ozobot Classroom Dashboard just got an upgrade! Let’s take a quick tour…

First, you’ll find the most important updates right up top, from new features to prompts to update your bots. Speaking of bots, if your school or district needs to order more or wants a demo of the latest features, you can reach an Account Executive anytime by selecting ‘Get Demo or Quote’.

If you haven’t completed Educator Training, that shows up first in your Dashboard and will go away when your training is complete. If you received Bot Camp with your Evo or Classroom Kit, you’ll find those training instructions here. Or, you can print activities to try new Educator Basic Training. Based on your feedback, we reimagined training so it would match student-facing lessons, so you can come out of training well versed in Ozobot’s 2 Ways to Code and ready to lead your first lessons with students.

The rest of the Dashboard features quick links to new Pacing Guides (more on that below), plus the Blockly editor, Simulator, and Challenges (ShapeTracer 1, ShapeTracer 2, and OzoTown). If you have experience programming and teaching with Python, you can also sign up for our Python Beta program from here.

Your last quick links allow you to create your own Ozobot lessons and browse and register for upcoming Ozobot webinars. Check out a monthly Ozobot 101 Webinar for a hands-on demo of how to get started!

Pacing Guides: A Better Way to Plan Your Lessons

Perhaps the greatest new feature with Classroom’s Back to School release is the introduction of new Pacing Guides. Pacing Guides for K-8 allow you to plan lessons by grade level, giving your students a foundational grasp of computer science before moving to content-integrated lessons that bring math, ELA, and STEAM to life. No more browsing through the 500+ lessons in our library and wondering where to start!

There’s so much to say about Pacing Guides, check out this blog post for the full breakdown of how to use them, what’s included, and an intro to the curriculum development team behind them.

Introducing Ozobot Pacing Guides >

Note: Ozobot Pacing Guides–specifically the Introduction to Color Codes and Introduction Blockly series featured within them–replace and enhance the lesson content formerly known as the Core Coding Curriculum.

Simplified Class Management & Student Assignments

Surprise, there’s no more Classes section in Classroom’s left menu. That’s because we’ve completely simplified the process for running lessons in person, assigning them remotely, or teaching in hybrid models.

Gone are the days of connecting to your Ozobot Classroom Communicator before a lesson. Now, you’ll just use the Communicator to update your robots’ firmware in the Devices section. You’ll get a Dashboard notification when new firmware is available!

Now, you can share assignments with students right from Lessons. Lessons with videos have a Share with Students option. Find it on the right side of the Lesson Details page. Select Share with Students’, and you’ll get a unique link.

Open the link to see the lesson exactly as students will see it.

For in-person learning, screencast this view. For remote and hybrid learning, send the link to students via your LMS or preferred method.

Important Note: If you used the Classes section before and got used to plugging in your Ozobot Classroom Communicator before running a lesson, this process has changed. Now, you’ll only use your Communicator when updating bots, in the Devices section. Otherwise, keep it unplugged–especially during lessons!

Let us know what you think of the latest updates to Classroom by reaching out to hello@ozobot.com!

The post Classroom Back-to-School Updates: STEAM Gets Even Simpler appeared first on Ozobot.

By following a Pacing Guide, you can give your students a foundational grasp of computer science and robotics, then move on to content-integrated lessons that bring math, ELA, and STEAM to life in a whole new way. Most lessons found in our Pacing Guides also feature student-facing instructional videos, and all lessons are standards aligned (CSTA, NGSS, CCSS Math/ELA).

To access the new Pacing Guides, go to the Dashboard or Lessons sections of Ozobot Classroom:

• Log in or create an account at classroom.ozobot.com. (It’s FREE for educators!)
• From the Dashboard, select ‘Explore Guides’.

or

• From Lessons, select ‘Explore Pacing Guides’.
• Explore specific Pacing Guides for:
  • Kindergarten
  • Grade 1
  • Grade 2
  • Grade 3
  • Grade 4
  • Grade 5
  • Middle School
• Click on a Lesson’s title to get started!

 How to Use the Pacing Guides

With up to 30 lessons per grade level, Pacing Guides are designed to keep students and teachers engaged for an entire school year, but they’re also flexible and can be tailored to the needs of your school, class, or camp. Your actual lesson pacing can include a regular cadence of:

• one lesson per week for a year
• 2-3 lessons per week for a semester or unit

Each lesson runs 45-60 minutes. Featured lessons include Introduction to Color Codes and Introduction to Blockly lessons, which provide a solid, grade-level-differentiated CS foundation for your students with and without screens. Student-facing instructional videos make it easy to lead instruction, whether you’re a STEM Teacher or an English teacher with zero computer science or coding experience! These lessons are aligned with CSTA standards, meaning they can help you reach new goals if your state has adopted CSTA standards (shoutout to Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, and many more!), or has state-specific CS standards that can be mapped to CSTA.

After each series of Introductory lessons–Color Codes and Blockly–you’ll find recommended content-integrated lessons that bring CS to math, ELA, and STEAM. These lessons are a great way to increase engagement in core subjects, especially if you’re looking to address unfinished learning in these areas.

Note: Ozobot Pacing Guides–specifically the Introduction to Color Codes and Introduction Blockly series featured within them–replace and enhance the lesson content formerly known as the Core Coding Curriculum.

What’s Included?

When it comes to teaching the lesson content, check out the Full Lesson Plan to find everything you need and the flexibility to teach as you choose. There you’ll find:

• Synchronous Lesson Plan (with Direct Instruction Steps)
• Instructional Video
• Student Activity Guide
• Student Activity Sheets
• Teacher Answer Key/Potential Solution

Almost all lessons in the Pacing Guides, including all the Introduction to Color Codes and Introduction to Blockly lessons, feature student-facing instructional videos. These are a great solution for remote and hybrid models, and even in the classroom some educators find that using the instructional videos gives them time to check in on students and provide individualized support and instruction as needed. If you prefer to lead instruction yourself, follow the Direct Instruction steps also included in each Lesson Plan.

Meet the Curriculum Development Team

Ozobot Pacing Guide lessons, scope, and sequence were all designed by the Ozobot EDU team. Meet this group of passionate, credentialed teachers with real classroom experience and specializations in instructional tech, curriculum development, and PD.

Melissa Toohey, EdTech & Adoption Specialist
Ed.D. Educational/Instructional Technology – University of California, Los Angeles
M.Ed. Elementary Education & Teaching – University of California, San Diego
B.S. – University of California, San Diego

In addition to leading Ozobot’s PD Program, Melissa is pursuing her doctoral degree in UCLA’s Educational Leadership Program where she focuses on ensuring teachers’ success in implementing STEAM and promoting equity in CS education. Melissa is a former K-1 teacher who has taught in private, charter, and public school settings; developed CS curriculum; and created the first elementary school STEAM program in Watts in South Los Angeles.

Jen Maher, Curriculum Developer & Customer Experience Representative
M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction – Weber State University
B.A. – Brigham Young University

Jen focuses on Ozobot curriculum development and ensuring teacher success in her dual role at Ozobot. She has taught middle school math and science and started her own tutoring business to help students advance their math and reading skills. Jen also spent 10+ years as a dance teacher in private and public education settings, where she focused on Brain-Compatible movement education.

Natalie Sanchez, Curriculum Developer
B.S. Childhood Education & English – State University of New York College at Cortland

As an Ozobot Curriculum Developer, Natalie focuses on creating standards-aligned content for grades 2-8. She is a PK-4 certified educator and has taught kindergarten, 3rd-grade reading intervention, and 5th grade. From there, Natalie transitioned into the role of a curriculum developer and instructional coach and focused on CS immersion for K-5, then trained teachers on CS immersion and using data to drive instruction as a PD specialist.

The post Introducing Ozobot Pacing Guides appeared first on Ozobot.

These lessons are designed for all educators and students; no coding or CS experience needed. They’re the perfect place to start if:

• your students are familiar with Ozobot’s Color Codes, but not Blockly
• you’re looking to build foundational CS skills
• you want an introduction to Ozobot basics, before moving on to content-integrated Ozobot lessons in math, ELA, science, and more

Series for Grades 2-5

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 01: Basic Training

Grades 2-12
Computer Science, Engineering/Tech

In this lesson, students learn how to navigate through Ozobot Blockly, program simple block-based code, and run the code on their Ozobot.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 02: Sequences

Grades 2-15
Computer Science

Students learn about sequences in programming, and learn to program their Ozobot to perform a series of commands in order.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 03: Loops

Grades 2-5
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of loops and apply the concept with Ozobot Blockly to program their bot to move in different patterns.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 04: Debugging

Grades 2-5
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of debugging and practice the concept with block-based coding to find and correct errors in different programs.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 05: Skills Check 1

Grades 2-5
Computer Science

Students check their understanding of sequences, loops, and debugging by programming their bot along a route from school to home following directions in story form.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 06: Conditionals

Grades 3-5 (skip this lesson for the Grade 2 series)
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of conditionals and apply the concept with block-based coding to program their bot to respond to their movements.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 07: Variables

Grades 3-5 (skip this lesson for the Grade 2 series)
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of variables and apply the concept with block-based coding to program their bot to complete different actions according to the color it senses.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 08: Skills Check 2

Grades 3-5 (skip this lesson for the Grade 2 series)
Computer Science

Students check their understanding of loops, conditionals, and variables to program their bot with Ozobot Blockly to complete a maze.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 09: Line Navigation

Grades 2-5
Computer Science

Students will learn how to program using the Line Navigation blocks in Ozobot Blockly to instruct their bot to move to different locations.

Lesson Plan >

Series for Grades 6-12

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 01: Basic Training

Grades 2-12
Computer Science, Engineering/Tech

In this lesson, students learn how to navigate through Ozobot Blockly, program simple block-based code, and run the code on their Ozobot.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 02: Sequences

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students learn about sequences in programming, and program their Ozobot to perform a series of commands in order.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 03: Loops

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of loops and apply the concept with block-based coding to program their bot to dance.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 04: Conditionals

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of conditionals and apply the concept with block-based coding to program their bot to respond to their movements.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 05: Skills Check 1

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students check their understanding of sequences, loops, and conditionals to program their bot with OzoBlockly to complete a maze with obstacles.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 06: Variables

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of variables and apply the concept with block-based coding to program their bot to complete different actions according to different colors.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 07: Line Navigation

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students will discover the blocks in the Line Navigation category in Level 3 of Ozoblockly and practice using these blocks to complete a maze challenge.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 08: Debugging

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students learn about the concept of debugging and practice the concept with block-based coding to find and correct errors in different programs.

Lesson Plan >

Introduction to Ozobot Blockly 09: Skills Check 2

Grades 6-12
Computer Science

Students will check their understanding of sequences, conditionals, variables, and line navigation to program their bot with Ozobot Blockly to complete a bot wash.

Lesson Plan >

The post CS Standards Made Simple: New Ozobot Blockly Video Lessons appeared first on Ozobot.

In a field currently dominated by men, it can seem to girls (especially girls of color) that they’re not a good fit for future careers and hobbies in computer science. According to Microsoft, the majority of girls and young women describe themselves as creative, but relatively few associate STEM jobs with being creative.  We want to help change that perception, and keep their opportunities and interest in coding alive throughout their education. With more and more careers requiring knowledge of coding and STEM, it is imperative. 

We are fortunate to have Melissa Toohey, our EdTech Adoption Specialist, as a resource. An Ed.D. candidate at UCLA, her research is focused on the lack of diversity in the computing field. According to Toohey, “If elementary school students have access and exposure to computer science instruction early in their academic careers, more students, both male and female,  will have the opportunity to engage in computer science learning, gain interest in the subject, and potentially pursue the field as a career.  In order to sustain interest in computer science and develop computing identities, students may benefit from participation in professionally and personally authentic computing opportunities.” 

Our aim is to increase access to STEM for all kids, and that involves empowering teachers to integrate STEM into their classrooms. One way we do that is our Lesson Library. With lessons for any subject for K-12, we aim to help kids discover a love for coding no matter the subjects they’re drawn to. While the following lessons were not created specifically for girls (we understand that interests and affinities vary greatly), we compiled some of our favorite Ozobot lessons to show girls that STEM is everywhere. Read on for lessons that women on the Ozobot team recommend to show how varied and creative STEM can be.

Melissa, EdTech Adoption Specialist & Curriculum Developer

Trick or Treat

“I love that there are personally authentic computing experiences in it. All kids love to trick or treat, and there’s so much opportunity for all kids to engage in the computing lesson, regardless of their background or gender!  Everyone can picture themselves choosing a costume to go trick or treating, and in this lesson, anyone can see themselves as a computer scientist (maybe even a spooky coder!)”

Lunar New Year Red Envelope Adventure

“Research has shown that one reason girls and students of color participate in computer science at lower rates, in part because they don’t see themselves represented in computing. By creating a lesson that was reflective of my culture, I hope to encourage other students to see their cultures in computing, and to encourage teachers to incorporate their students’ cultures in their learning.”

Jen, Curriculum Developer & Customer Experience Representative

Prominent Black Engineers and Scientists

“This lesson includes women who are astronauts, inventors, mathematicians, aerospace engineers, and so many other professions. They are inspiring examples of what women can achieve.”

Theresa, Software Engineer

Engineering Design Process Series

Lesson 1 >
Lesson 2 >
Lesson 3 >

“Systemic thinking and systems design is fundamental in any project, but especially an engineering one. We have to consider all the parts of a system to solve a problem, not just a single feature. System design thinking is one of the things that makes a software engineer a Senior Software Engineer.”

Traveling the Silk Road

“I’m also interested in the Silk Road lesson because my degree is in Middle Eastern studies, and I love the idea of exploring that part of history while integrating computers. 

Any lesson that seems interesting would be a good lesson for a student since passion and curiosity are the main ingredients for learning.”

[Toohey] points out that lack of diversity in STEM is well documented, but that there is “minimal research around teacher preparation, systems of support, professional development, training, and pedagogical content knowledge for elementary school teachers teaching computer science.”

We hope the lessons and resources above can help you bring computer science to all subjects, all grade levels, and all students!

The post Lessons to Show Girls & Young Women That Coding is for Everyone appeared first on Ozobot.

Check out our remote-friendly Learn Anywhere lessons for Black History below!

Black History: Influential People

Grades 2-5
Social Studies, Engineering/Tech

It is important to recognize the contributions of Black people this month—and every month. In this lesson, students will read clues to identify five different influential people in Black history and draw a picture to show a major event for each. Students will create an interactive timeline using Color Codes to program their bot to move through history.

Of course, there are countless Black people that have been leaders and influenced society. We hope that this lesson can be a conversation starter for celebrating their contributions and achievements. 

Lesson Plan >

Prominent Black Engineers and Scientists (Remote-Friendly)

Grades 6-8
Social Studies, Engineering/Tech

Black scientists and inventors have created items and technology that we use every day. In this lesson, students will choose an influential Black scientist and/or engineer, research their lives, and create a biographical timeline for Ozobot to follow. 

Lesson Plan >

We love the potential for these to teach not only history, but compassion for what these engineers and scientists faced and overcame, along with the potential to empower BIPOC students.

The post Video Lessons for Black History Month and Beyond appeared first on Ozobot.