The Sulphur Springs Union School District is pleased to be hosting its first summer GATE Academy at Leona Cox Community School, June 21 to June 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for current fourth and fifth grade GATE students. During GATE academy students will Tinker, Make, and Create during a three-day MakerCamp.

All students will utilize a Sulphur Springs School District Google Account to earn participation badges, reflect on the design process, and showcase projects.

Day One will be focused on 3-D Minecrafting tied to specific Math content standards. For the Minecrafting project, students will use a Minecraft sword grid to create a 3D Minecraft sword of their own. They will then save their project as a link and place it in their Google classroom account.

The GATE Students will be able to observe their 3D sword being made in the computer lab. In addition day one the students will participate in a “Makey Makey Closed Circuit” activity that ties to Physical Science and Engineering standards. Makey Makey will be introduced by discussing open and closed circuits and then students will explore some web applications. In small groups, the students will create a Makey Makey floor piano and test the pianos on the smartboard.

Day two will include an activity called “Paper Circuitry” and will again focus on Physical Science and Engineering standards in regards to energy being transferred from place to place. The students will work to create a simple circuit card. Students will then be able to explore Green Screen with themes, overlays, and backgrounds.

Day three will have a focus of Stop Motion Animation and Green Screen which ties in ELA Literacy and Engineering standards. During this activity students will build a stop motion stabilizer with various materials. They will then be assigned varying jobs in a small group to create a Stop Motion Animation.

At the end of the GATE MakerCamp the students will reflect on all of their activities, take a survey, and take home their passports and badges. The students will be able to log into their Google Classroom account and share their projects with their parents.