Summer ‘25 Half Term Newsletter
Quite a short half term again, but still loads going on in our clubs!
It’s been great to see our Coders engage in the new technology focuses this term - exploring and developing their coding and computational thinking skills across our wide platform.
This update provides a brief overview on what children have been up so far this term and what the content will be after the break. If you’re not sure of the tech focus - please just ask your child or send us an email.
Planned club technologies for the Autumn term will be detailed when schools distributes our club details towards the end of the school year.
Also, just to let you know, we still have some limited spaces for our upcoming Half Term Code Camp!
<Think> 3D Design & Printing
Computational thinking focus for half term:
Tinkering, Pattern Seeking
With quite a few children already knowing the basics of this technology, this half term, we've had a quick recap of the key CAD (computer aided design) tools with children completing challenges on functionality such as duplicate and repeat, cutting holes, and scribble tools. Children have already started on their own 3D prints with the plan to print these for children over the break.
After half term, we’ll be looking at how 3D printers are increasingly being used in all walks of life and how they may be used in the future. We will explore how coding can enhance the complexity of 3D Designs and also look at other 3D software and how it compares to TinkerCad.
<Think> Animation
Computational thinking focus for half term:
Algorithms, Sequencing
In This half term, children started with creating Digital Art, exploring our Gifs could be made using multiple digital images. We have then moved on to stop motion animation, exploring some keys tools such as zoom, duplicating and repeating sequences, and frame speed.
After half term, we will be looking at layering in animation, chroma keys and rig removal. Children will also be using our drawing tablets to with some other digital art software.
<Think> Games Creator
Computational thinking focus for half term:
Decomposition, Tinkering, Creativity
Coders have been busy decomposing a digital video game into its main components and creating each element from scratch using Bloxels EDU software. They have looked at gameplay, animation and decoration. Coders have learnt to ‘program’ (configure) each pixel and debug their games as they progress. Children have created fantastic animated characters - both heroes and villians - and shared them in class libraries to use in later games. Fantastic seeing children's creativity!
Next half term, we’ll be focusing on more complex aspects of the game, such as locks/keys and warping, and Coders will be able to share their creations with the world! Some of our clubs will also explore some different digital game platforms which require coding using the Blockly Coding language.
<Think> OctoStudio
Computational thinking focus for half term:
Algorithms, Sequencing
MIT Studio’s latest creation - OctoStudio is fast becoming one of our favourite technology focuses.
Designed specifically for mobile devices, our Coders have been exploring how the software compares with Scratch and started created some fun games using the gyroscope tilt function of our tablets as the controller, as well as the camera and sound features.
After half term, we’ll been exploring more how Conditional Statements can improve gameplay, building on creating Variables for score, timers, and keeping track of high scores, and hopefully how multi-player games can be coded with the Broadcast feature. Loads of fun, loads of challenge
<Think> Scratch
Computational thinking focus for half term:
Algorithms, Sequencing
For some children, this club has been their first real introduction to this amazing software being a CREATOR, rather than just a passive CONSUMER.
This term, we’ve been exploring Sprites and backgrounds, with coders creating their own short animations using sprites they’ve created using our Drawing Tablets. For some of our clubs, we’ve started looking at sound (… with headphones thankfully!) and all children will create their own musical bands, using loop codes.
We’ll also be exploring how motion cameras can be used in games and animations - looking at how children’s hand motions and facial expressions can be used as a coding input. Loads of fun ahead!
<Think> Virtual Worlds
Computational thinking focus for half term:
Tinkering, Creativity, Algorithms
While our virtual reality software has been renamed ‘Delightex’ or DX from the original CoSpaces EDU, the functionality remains as powerful as ever!
Children have been busy exploring the basic editor functions, completing fun challenges and learning our we can make digital spaces look more realistic using ‘physics’. We always love seeing our creative children are with this tech!
After the break, we’ll start using the blockly based coding language to code our spaces, creating fun animations, simulations and simple games.
Half Term Code Camp
We still have a few spaces for our upcoming Half Term Code Camp. This time, each morning we will be focusing on a particular technology, as follows:
Tuesday 27th May - Robotics
Wednesday 28th May - STEM challenges
Thursday 29th May - Animation and Digital Art
Afternoons will be less screen-based, with different computational thinking games, STEM activities, and in/outdoor robotic fun …
Loads of fun and loads of engaging challenges!
Loads of <Thinking> BIG!! …
