Enrichment Ideas

Any student can utilize the following free websites to increase a variety of skills related to critical thinking and creativity.

• Typing - Typing Club (available through Classlink) - has lessons to help students improve their typing skills. This will save them time as more and more assignments will be utilizing technology.

• 3d modeling - www.tinkercad.com Students will need to sign up, but access is free. There are a series of learning tasks under the Learn tab. This is a very robust program that can download to a 3d printer. Tinkercad is a free online collection of software tools that help people all over the world think, create and make. We’re the ideal introduction to Autodesk, the leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software.

• Code.org - code.org/ Code.org® is a dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresented youth. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra. Code.org provides the leading curriculum for K-12 computer science.

• Scratch - scratch.mit.edu/ . A coding program where students can create games and animations on their own or by copying others. This is a great place to gather some critical thinking/coding skills. Students will need to join, but it is totally free. With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge.

• Khan Academy - www.khanacademy.org/ - free, world-class education for anyone anywhere on a variety of subjects.