School Summer 2009

Santa Cruz Montessori

Lego Jr. Engineering, Robotics, Computer Animation & Video

Cost of all classes is $125. For week long session

Beginning Lego Engineering:  (This is a summer class only)
Ages 6-7 (kindergarten with experience following Lego directions): 

Robotics with Lego Mindstorms RCX: Ages 8 and up (7 with experience following Lego directions)

Imagine what you can do when you combine Lego bricks with computers! The Lego Robotics Workshop is an introduction to building and programming machines using the Lego Mindstorms Invention System 2.0. Students will have fun designing programmable machines that can walk on legs, or move about on wheels, to find their own way to avoid obstacles. Using Lego blocks, motors and sensors, you will learn mechanical design, construction, programming and teamwork skills. Students use a laptop computer to program their machines to move, react, and make sounds in order to solve challenges (laptops are provided). All equipment is returned to instructor at end of class.

Robotics with Lego Mindstorms NXT: Ages 8 and up (7 with previous programming experience with RCX)

The latest generation of Lego Mindstorms has arrived! Now you can create the smartest, strongest and most advanced LEGO® robot ever! Using the NEW and improved Mindstorms NXT kits beginners and experts alike can create vehicles, machinery, and animal robots that obey every command. Incredible new hi-tech sensors combine with the power of the NXT Intelligent Brick to let your robot do just about anything you can imagine. You will learn to use sound sensors, touch sensors, and light sensors. All programming is icon based drag and drop. This is a great way to learn about mechanics, physics and computer programming. All necessary equipment is provided. Robots will be disassembled and returned to instructor at end of class.

Computer Animation and Digital Cartooning Ages 8 and up (7 with computer experience)*

This exciting class is an introduction to computer animation using Macromedia Flash. Kids will have fun making and assembling a basic animated cartoon using movie symbols, sound, and animated text. The animations will be burned onto CD’s to take home. Computers are provided.  I have taught this class to children for the past four years.

Claymation Video Production for Kids:  Ages 8 and up (7 with computer experience)*

Kids will build their own mini movie sets and characters. Using video web cameras and Microsoft Movie Maker software, they will create an original animated movie using stop-motion and live video techniques. They will edit the movie and add exciting sound effects, music, narration and titles. The finished movies will be burned on a CD to take home at end of class. All necessary equipment is provided.  Claymation & Stop Motion Video is central to the clay animation techniques used on popular children's shows such as Gumby, and Wallace and Grommett films.
*Computer experience means that the child knows how to name, save and retrieve files.