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STEM in Motion

December 2024 Edition

STEM in MotionDecember 2024 Edition

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Campuses Scheduled for December Visits:

Pat Carney

Maxdale

Montague Village

Computer Science Education Week

December 9 - 15, 2024

Google Computer Science Week 2024 Video

Hour of Code

Computer Science Education Week is held annually to commemorate the birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906). The Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week, December 9 - 15, 2024.


"The Hour of Code is designed to demystify code and show that computer science is not rocket science—anybody can learn the basics," said Hadi Partovi, founder and CEO of Code.org. "Over 100 million students worldwide have tried an Hour of Code. The demand for relevant 21st-century computer science education crosses all borders and knows no boundaries."

Beginner Activities

Click on an image to get started! For additional activities, click on the Hour Of Code Activities button below.

Music Lab: Jam Session

Make music and learn to code with Music Lab: Jam Session! In this self-guided, one-hour activity, students remix tracks from artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Shakira while mastering coding basics such as sequencing, functions, and exploring AI-driven beat creation. This hands-on interactive experience sparks creativity and boosts confidence—leaving students proud of their custom track and the coding skills they've gained.

Mindcraft Timecraft

Travel back in time to save the future in this free Hour of Code lesson in Minecraft: Education Edition. Students will choose their own adventure and learn basic coding concepts to correct mysterious mishaps throughout history. Along the way, they'll connect with great innovators and inventions in science, architecture, music, engineering, and more.

Barbie You Can Be Anything

Explore six cool careers and see how coding can be applied to each one! Discover what it's like to be a Robotics Engineer, a Musician, an Astronaut, a Farmer, a Beekeeper, and a Pastry Chef. Use programming to animate characters, compose music, tell stories, design games, and even create art.

The Joy of Bubble Popping

Create a bubble popping game featuring the stars of Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2!

The Show Must Go On

Welcome to The Show Must Go On, where your creativity and coding skills take center stage! The big show is in chaos—the Agent has vanished! Use problem-solving and computational thinking to code through fun challenges, unlock surprises, and bring the show to life. Compose a song, choreograph a dance, craft a costume and save the show—all while learning key coding skills in blocks or Python.

Code with Anna and Elsa

Let's use code to join Anna and Elsa as they explore the magic and beauty of ice. You will create snowflakes and patterns as you ice-skate and make a winter wonderland that you can then share with your friends!

Mario's Secret Adventure: Build your own 3D Mario Game

Build your very own 3D Mario game, while learning the basics of programming. Learn about the fundamentals of game development; form an understanding of motion in 3D space; learn to add score, lives and cool sound effects to your game, all in less than an hour. And the best part, you can share your game with your family and friends in just one click and play with them on any device in your home.

Moana: Wayfinding with Code

The new Disney Hour of Code tutorial uses a visual programming language using blocks where students simply drag and drop visual blocks to write code. Visual programming is a fun and easily understood way to teach the logic of coding. Exposure to visual programming lays the foundation for text-based programming, a more complex activity. The tutorial is targeted for kids ages 8+ and those trying coding for the first time.

Learn to Code Hot Wheels

Learn to program with Hot Wheels in this high-octane racing game! Choose from a wide selection of cars, then learn to program as you navigate through complex race tracks. Jump over obstacles, skid around corners, and win the race. You can even program your own race tracks and challenge your friends to race on them.

Hour of Code Activities
Try a one-hour tutorial designed for all ages in over 45 languages. Join millions of students and teachers in over 180 countries starting with an Hour of Code.
What is Hour of Code? | Hour of Code Activities | Free Coding Games and Courses

🕯 Lessons For STEM Rotation

Imaginary Friends with Squishy Circuits

Grade 3

Electric Art - Designing Circuits with a Circuit Pen

Grade 4

Launching Forces and Measuring Distances

Grade 5

Sudoku Puzzle for December

"Sudoku puzzles are provided by www.sudokuoftheday.com - visit them to get a new Sudoku every day!"
Sudoku Solution from November

KenKen Puzzles

STEM at Home

Christmas Stem Fun: Sleigh and Slope!
DIY Gnome Ornaments with 'Grow Your Own' Crystal Beards Science Experiment (Borax, Salt and Alum)

Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?

Build your own friendly snowperson in this winter wonderland using Bitsbox!

Girlstart DeSTEMber

DeSTEMber was created by Girlstart as a month-long virtual program to build awareness for STEM, showing children and families that "STEM is everywhere". Girlstart's mission is to increase girls' interest and encouragement in STEM through innovative, nationally-recognized informal STEM education programs. Girlstart is a non-profit organization that reaches over 10,000 students and families each year.

December 9 - Hour of Code Girlstart Calendar Event

Teacher Corner

Hour of Code: Make The Invisible Visible | Official Trailer
2024 CodeMonkey Hour of Code Webinar

Important Upcoming Dates!

Winter Break - December 23 - Jan 3

New Year's Day - Jan 1

National Technology Day - Jan 6

Student Holiday - Jan 6

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - Jan 20

National LEGO Day - Jan 28

Lunar New Year - Jan 29

NASA's Day of Remembrance - Jan 30

Middle School STEM Application

November 22, 2024 - Applications for the 2025 - 2026 school year MS STEM Academy are available. Please visit www.kisd4stem.org or download attached applications. Deadline to be included in the initial MS STEM lottery selection is March 13, 2025.

Killeen ISD STEM Department

Linda Ayala-Hernandez - Teacher

LaToya Jones - Aide/Driver

Cynthia Hodges, PhD - Director

Marcia A. Johnson - Secretary

Luz Rubianes - HS STEM Academic Advisor

Email: STEM@killeenisd.org
Website: kisd4stem.org
Phone: (254) 336 - 7836

Cynthia Hodges
Cynthia is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters