How can you take an activity of identifying the continents to something beyond just the labeling a map? Rolfe 7th and 8th grade exceptional education students used innovative technologies to reinforce their knowledge of the world’s contents while applying the basic principles of coding. The students used the Code and Go Mouse and Ozobots in an activity to identify the continent locations. You could hear the cheers of the class as the mouse successfully landed on its coded destination on the map or observe the Ozobot vigorously spinning in place over a continent. If the mouse or Ozobot didn’t work as planned, the class would collaborate together as a group to critically think and solve the problem together.  

It wasn’t just about the robots and coding as the class also discovered the principles of 3D printing. Students experimented with this concept by using 3Doodlers to create their own globes, identifying the continents, and demonstrating their learning as each one was built. It was a class favorite as they utilized this new creative tool. 

Through all these processes and approaches the students continually collaborated, planned their pathways, tested out their ideas, and tried again if their designs needed more work. The life skills of creatively and critically thinking were being built as they learned the importance of not giving up when the learning is difficult.