Robotics/STEM After-School Program

Have you ever built a LEGO robot? Scholars in Mr. Robinson's Robotics/STEM Class have! At PS4's new Robotics/STEM After-School Club, scholars are exploring the different ways scientists and engineers reach remote places. They are shown strategies on how to create and program Milo the Science Rover using LEGO blocks and coding! The robot is then coded to move forward and backwards. Building Milo was the first project in Mr. Robinson's Robotics/STEM After-School Program

In this first project, Mr. Robinson uses LEGO Education lessons to teach students in grades 4 and 5 about STEM concepts. LEGO® Education Solutions for primary school provides the engaging, hands-on experiences students need to explore core STEM concepts and link them to real-life phenomenon. LEGO® bricks, programming tools, and supporting lesson plans for teachers ignite students natural curiosity, helping them develop essential communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking-skills in a fun and exciting way. Tactile, flexible solutions grow with students as they problem-solve and discover how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) affect their everyday life. LEGO Education also brings this creative spirit to robotics clubs, coding programs, and maker spaces. With fun new Maker activities, LEGO Education makes the joy of discovery even more accessible. For more information about LEGO education, click here!

S.T.E.M. Activities At PS4

Ms. Giler's 3rd grade scholars use Ozobots to reinforce elements of a story.

What is STEM? STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) is a cultural and educational shift. Rather than teaching the four disciplines in isolation, STEM blends them into a cohesive learning model based on real-world applications. STEM education encourages scientific inquiry, hands-on experimentation, and data analysis. Above all, STEM gets scholars excited about science! At PS4, our scholars are exploring STEM in a variety of ways.

In Ms. Giler’s classroom scholars discussed how plot, setting, and characters are important when building a story mountain. To reinforce their learning, the scholars worked with the Ozobot to retell the story of the Three Little Pigs and used the Ozobot’s color codes to describe the story elements and outline the plot points. This approach helped them visualize the story structure through the plots. 

In Ms. Mallonga’s classroom, scholars discussed how the structure of story elements supports the story. With one sheet of paper and a few pieces of tape, scholars tried to build a structure that support a book to be elevated off the ground. Some students built circular structures with their group members, pooling their resources, while other students built triangles or boxes to support their books. The analogy that the students took away from the experience is ,without structure and story elements to support, the story will fall apart

In Ms. K. Cabral and in Mr. Harris’ classrooms, scholars mapped out a constellation on paper. To incorporate STEM into the science lesson, the scholars are going to set the Ozobot loose on the lines of their constellation and use the color coding to showcase where the stars are in the constellation. While the students got to see an example of the teacher using the Ozobot to outline the Big Dipper, the students are excited to create their own coded constellations next time!

Ms. K. Cabral (520) shows her scholars how to use the Ozobots.

Ms. Anderson and Mr. Robinson facilitated a mini lesson about the elements of a story and then used SMART board technology to have the scholars pick their story elements.They motivated their scholars by promising that they will extend the story elements into 3D printing.

In Ms. Hodge’s classroom, scholars used think-pair-share strategy to discuss what STEM is. Scholars also discussed how the story elements fit into the story mountain. This approach helped scholars conceptualize the variant parts of the story structure.Then, scholars wrote their own stories and mapped them out. Once scholars finish their stories, they will create story mountains using the Ozobot.

According to Ms. Bryan, Assistant Principal facilitating STEM projects at our school, "we are at the early stages of STEM implementation and I've noticed that using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is helping our teachers start teaching the four subjects in an integrated manner. "  She goes on to say, "most of all, I have seen scholars being motivated and engaged in learning when exposed to STEM-related lessons."  

It is clear that STEM activities ignite scholars' interest and makes any topic exciting by including design, application, and integration process. For more information about STEM activities at PS4, please contact Ms. Bryan at EBryan@schools.nyc.gov. For more information on Ozobots, click here!

PS4's Film Club

Mr G shows Film Club members how to use cameras.

PS4's Film Club had it's first session on March 20th!  Twenty students were hand selected because of their achievements in technology to be part of this club which meets in the computer lab, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-5pm.  Led by director, writer, producer and teaching artist Roderick Giles, or "Mr. G.," students will create a narrative on the topic they chose during the first few sessions.  Members of the Film Club then began working on content before being given camera equipment, as it supports the flow process of creating a finished piece.  Currently, they are filming and editing scripted performance projects putting an emphasis on different issues that many young people face in the community such as peer pressure, identity and academic responsibility.  Their final production will be shown to the school community in June.

Film Club members learning how to use cameras.

Notes on a white board show elements of the story that club members are filming.

Special thanks to Branden Baskin from Vivid Imagination Program for bringing this innovative program to PS4!  Click here to learn more.  For more information about this program, contact Mr. Cantu.

Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony - 2015

Attendees at the Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony on December 8, 2015.

Congratulations to all the award winners that received certificates at the Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony! Nearly fifty parents and guests attended the ceremony to see their child receive an award from PS4's Cluster Teachers!  The Cluster teachers work with all PS4 students each week to teach Science, Technology, Social Studies, Physical Education, Reading, Music and Math.

Upon careful consideration of classwork, effort, character and citizenship, fifteen students were selected to receive an award in the auditorium.  On behalf of all Ms. McLeod (Reading), Mr. Means (Music),  Ms. McArdle (Physical Education), Ms. Baez (Science), Mr. Cesani (Technology) and Mr. Harris (Social Studies), congratulations to all the award winners!  Take a look at the slideshow below for more photos from the event.

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Innovate My Classroom

As part of a celebration of the last year of the 3-year Title III Grant that PS4 has been a part of since 2009, Mr. Nycz (co-teacher from class 320) was one of the 20 teacher-presenters at the "Innovate My Class" Workshop held at the Harlem Renaissance Technology Center!  He did a lesson on how to use Student Response Systems or "clickers", as students affectionately refer to them.  Richelle P., Monise F., Duly O., Anderson T., and Jake H. all joined Mr. Nycz at the workshop because they were excellent students throughout the year.  After the workshop, each of the five students discussed details of how the system works. 

Mr. Nycz presenting at Harlem Renaissance Technology Center.

 
Congressman Charles Rangel came to speak at the workshop and was able to witness Mr. Nycz and his students at work! "What are you doing and why are you using the clickers?", he asked the group. Though some of the students were shy, they each gave Congressman Rangel strong explanations. He was extremely impressed with the students from class 320 and was more than happy to take a picture with them to help celebrate their success.

Council Charles Rangel with Mr. Nycz and students from 320.

Congratulations to Mr. Nycz and his five technology experts!  Special thanks to Carolyn Semet from the Manhattan Office of Educational Technology for her support and expertise.  If you'd like to read Mr. Nycz's lesson, click here!

Technology at PS4

Thanks to RESOLUTION A funding from our City Council and Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, last week PS4 received a shipment of desktop computers! Every classroom received three new Lanovo Computers , a new printer, an ELMO document viewer and tables for all the new equipment! Some rooms have also had some upgrades. Room 100 (conference room) and Ms. Grimes' computer lab (room 213) now have a Smartboard and projector mounted to the wall. This new technology will support teachers and students as we continue to focus on 21st century learning. For more information on how technology is used in our school contact Mr. Polubiec at jpolubi@schools.nyc.gov.