Rolling Out The SPRK "Schools, Parents, Robots, Kids" Program In Our Library With Sphero

Today when the fifth graders were in the library and finishing up their nonfiction eBooks, I gave a few of them the fun job of getting out our new Sphero's and giving them a little try.  

It was the first time the three had used the Sphero's but they quickly figured out how they were ran by the apps on my iPad and ones that they could still add.                                   

                  

It was fun to watch them figure this out.....connecting all of them to the right one on the iPad, marking them with that information, adding apps that they might need, and even just turning the Sphero's on was exciting to learn along with the girls.  

They couldn't wait to try out the different apps and soon had a few favorites. 

The girls could have stayed in the library for the rest of the day....They had the best time!  

After a hour with the Sphero's and all of the different apps, I asked them if they would like to be part of the new SPRK program from Sphero.  

They quickly said "YES" and we made plans to get started tomorrow in the new makerspace within our library. 

On the Sphero website you can find, Sphero For Education or SPRK (Schools, Parents, Robots, Kids) which will fill you in on how you can get your students involved too.

There are a few things you need to know as you start.  

On the Sphero for Education page, 

there are lots of wonderful resources and ideas on how to integrate Sphero into the curriculum, school, and even outside the classroom too. 

Over the next several weeks, I am going to work through each of the five SPRK lessons that are included as part of Sphero for Education.  

I downloaded all of them tonight as well as the Introduction to Learning with Sphero.

When I read this one through, I got even more excited to pilot the Sphero's in the library with the group of my fifth grade friends.

We are going to learn so much with the SPRK program lessons as the students work in small groups to write computer programs that control how the Sphero rolls and appears.

I am excited to join the community of teachers and parents that Sphero are encouraging to connect through "Community Forum's" and "Meetups".  

We will have fun posting photos and videos on the #SPRKscholarship Instagram from the Van Meter Library Voice Instagram too.  

Tomorrow we will get the two ones I just received out of the boxes and have a whole lot of fun.

We will post about each of the five lessons within the SPRK program.....so stay tuned.  And have fun learning along with us.