It was Chanukah STEM and Coding this week as students in all divisions worked with Educational Technologist Mrs. Rubin. Seventh graders were able to “Code Their Chanukah Hero.” They chose someone who was a hero in their lives and then used coding blocks using the Scratch coding program to demonstrate how that person was their hero. Fifth grade chose different design looks that they then coded and animated to create their own Chanukah-themed Google Doodles. First and second graders created digital chanukah posters using JIStudio on their iPads, while third graders created Chanukah shapes as digital drawings using the polyline and curve tools in Google Drawings.

As a culminating activity to their electricity unit, fourth grade students wired menorahs that they designed and built. Students built closed circuits with a switch to light each menorah. The designs and material of the menorahs were only limited to the students’ imagination. Some of the students used foam tubes, plastic bottles, wood, legos and steel to create their menorahs. Students were excited to discuss their plans with one another. Each menorah was as individual as the student who created it!