Wildcat Workshop @ Marian Anderson School
ABOUT
The Wildcat Workshop is a K-8 multidisciplinary makerspace at the Marian Anderson School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
We make things using technology, computer science, and engineering. Along the way, we learn science, social studies, math, civic argumentation, storytelling, and digital citizenship.
Our digital literacy and citizenship curriculum, informed by the School District of Philadelphia curriculum framework and Pennsylvania state standards, addresses five domains:
Computing and society
Digital tools and collaboration
Media and information literacy
Computational thinking and coding
Engineering and design thinking
WILDCAT WORKSHOP LEADERSHIP
Trey Smith, a K-8 digital literacy teacher, facilitates learning in the Wildcat Workshop at Marian Anderson. He has taught a combination of science, engineering, computer science, and social studies in Philadelphia public schools for 11 years. He joined the Anderson faculty in 2021.
AmeriCorps Digital Service Fellows also support learning in the Wildcat Workshop.
CURRICULUM RESOURCES
High-quality curriculum materials can support meaningful, multidisciplinary learning. The organizations below provide resources and models that influence the work we do in our makerspace.
Cultivating Genius: Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy
GAME ON! Afterschool Program (Philadelphia Writing Project / Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University)
Kid Writing (Philadelphia Writing Project / National Writing Project)
Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program and Consortium
National Writing Project College, Career, and Community Writers Program
University of Pennsylvania Project-Based Learning Certificate Program
Thank You!
Thank you to the following organizations and individuals who have provide time, expertise, and/or resources to support the Wildcat Workshop!
Marian Anderson Administration, Staff, Paraprofessionals, and Teachers
Friends of Chester Arthur (FoCA)
Mr. Franklin, founder of the Wildcat Workshop
Mr. Davis, Mr. Green, Mr. Habib, Mr. J, Mr. McKeon, and the AmeriCorps Digital Service Fellows program
Mr. Ben, Ms. Brianna, Mr. Dawud, Mr. Trent, and the WHYY Media Labs Program
Ms. Kessler, Mr. Findley, Ms. Springart, Penn Engineers, and the Philadelphia Robotics Coalition for supporting the robotics teams
Ms. Shapiro, Ms. Walker, and Penn Engineers for supporting after school Scratch coding
Mr. Miller-Uueda for supporting STEAM across the School District of Philadelphia
Ms. Amy (for supporting our 2022-23 and 2023-24 grade 2 shadow puppet stories project)
Ms. Burlando, Ms. Fleurette, Ms. Pennypacker, and Ms. Schulz (for supporting our 2023 grade 4 soft circuit project)
Rangers at the Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (for supporting our 2021-22 grade 8 project)
Rangers at Independence National Historical Park (for supporting our 2021-22 grade 6 project)
Educators at the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (for our 2023 grade 7 field trip)
The Schulz Family (for lumber)
Mr. Katz (for helping with podcasting)
Mr. Sweeney (for 3D printer filament and Makey Makey kits)
Philadelphia Writing Project teacher consultant Ms. Buchanan (for Kid Writing support)
Penn-Alexander librarian and Philadelphia Writing Project teacher consultant Ms. Ross (for curriculum feedback and ideas)
Academy at Palumbo teacher Ms. Wang (for curriculum feedback and ideas)
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow Alumni: Ms. Cornelison, Ms. Hoppe, Ms. Stambaugh, Dr. Teisan, and Dr. Vieyra (for curriculum feedback and ideas)
Ms. O'Neil from Central Michigan University's Center for Excellence in STEM Education (for curriculum feedback and ideas)
Dr. Hennessy Elliott and the DragonsTeach program at Drexel University
Faculty and students affiliated with the following education research groups at Northwestern University: TIDAL, Next Generation Science Storylines, Learning Through Youth Community Tinkering Project, FUSE Studios, Center for Connected Learning and Computer-based Modeling, and tiilt lab.