John Street School’s fourth graders are learning how computers work, and even building their own, as part of their lessons with districtwide STEAM teacher Matthew Dornemann.
To kick off the project, students explored the fundamental functions of a computer: how it takes input, stores and processes information, and produces output. They also identified input and output devices, such as keyboards and joysticks or projectors and printers.
The fourth graders then took on the challenge of building their own Piper computers, which are DIY computer kits designed to be assembled like a wooden puzzle. combining hands-on construction with digital learning.
Once assembled, these Piper computers will be integrated into fifth grade lessons led by the districtwide coding teacher Julia Caiazzo.