Tiny Tykes Buzzing into Technology

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Ashlie Hargenrater
Grant Co-applicants
Jen Cilimi
Julie Kern
School Site
Truckee Elementary
Grant Category
Technology
Grant Date
2024-06-01T12:00:00
Description

We are asking for funding for a set of Bee-Bot Programmable Robots with supportive material for each Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms (three classrooms total). The Bee-Bots are an amazing STEM tool that will be used to integrate technology into the classroom in all content areas. The Bee-Bots robots are the programmable parts that students will work directly with. Students will use them to program a navigation path (forward, back, right, left, stop, go). The robot will follow the navigation path that the students program. The mats will be used as the surface for the robots to travel. Lastly, the included command cards act as visual support for programming the directions of the robot's path. 

We are also asking for two Bee-Bot card mats for each classroom (a total of six mats). The Bee-Bot mats provide a surface-road area for students to navigate the robots. The surface area has grids. Each grid box can have an image of a letter, color, shape, or any content students are learning about. The mat has a clear plastic sheet that allows the cards to be placed on the grids and locked into place. The students program the robot to navigate on the grid based on what they are trying to accomplish and where they are trying to make the bee-bot travel. For example, if they are trying to navigate to specific shapes on the grid. They use the mat as the navigation road. They program the robot to follow a specific path on the mat to reach the shape they are trying to reach.

Benefits of Program

The Bee-Bots will allow all students to explore, create, evaluate, and collaborate with their peers in meaningful, engaging, and fun ways. Many TK students are visual and hands-on learners. This grant would benefit these students because it provides them with opportunities for hands-on learning using the Bee-Bots. Because the Bee-Bots can be used with any content area, students will have opportunities for hands-on learning in all content areas throughout the year. It will provide them many opportunities to engage with technology in new and exciting ways. It is a great first step in learning about technology and a great introduction to programming. It can benefit all students in all content areas because it can be used in all areas of learning.

Success of Program

Technology is everywhere around us. We encounter it in different ways every day. We live in a world where having contemporary skills with technology is vital. Our current students are our iMakers and are growing up using technology. Success for the grant would include providing students with meaningful opportunities to engage with technology that can positively impact their achievement, motivation, engagement, and collaboration skills. 

Having the Bee-Bots and supporting material available in our Transitional Kindergarten classrooms will provide our students with early hands-on learning with technology. There can be some hesitation between early learning and technology, specifically with too much screen time. The Bee-Bots are a great alternative and balance between introducing technology to students and limiting screen time. Bee-Bots introduce technology to students in a fun and engaging way without using screen time. They provide a great balance for early learning and technology in the classroom. The funding for the Bee-Bots would enhance students’ opportunities to work on STEM activities while building on foundational language and vocabulary skills as they collaborate, have conversations, and work with their peers without a screen. In addition, they will support students' problem-solving skills as they learn to work together and solve problems that will arise while creating paths.

Using the Bee-Bots, students will work on sequencing and directionality. They will work on letters and colors, spelling words, identifying shapes, counting, life cycles, maps, and more! The robots can be integrated into all content areas of learning while making it fun and engaging. 

Implementation

The Bee-Bots will be used at a designated station area for students. The Bee-Bots will be used for multiple content-specific areas, and the station will be set up to build upon skills students are learning. The Bee-Bots are easy to set up for both teachers and students to use. The Bee-Bot Robots, mat, and command cards are placed at the station. Depending on the learning content, the picture cards used are the same format but have different content on them. For example, the cards may have numbers, letters, or colors. The content cards are something we will create by simply printing and laminating based on the learning content.

During students’ station rotations, they will lay the mat with the grids and content cards. Then, students program the robot to follow a path to get where they want to go. For example, if students are learning about colors, all content cards will be different colors. Their job can be to program a path to get the robot to one specific color or create a path where the robot only travels on one specific color. Students can use the command cards as visual support for programming the robot's direction.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

Yes. While we are asking for a full set and two grid mats for each classroom. If needed, we could share one set between the three classrooms. However, with the growing size of our Transitional Kindergarten classrooms and now having three classrooms, we find it would be beneficial for each classroom to have their own set of Bee-Bot Robots and mats.

Sustainability
The Bee-Bot Robots will be fully sustainable and last for years to come. With the ability to recharge, there is no need for the constant cost of batteries. No additional funding is needed for these products in the future. In addition, the robots can be used in all content-specific areas. Teachers can create any content-specific cards they want, and the robots can be used on any of them. The robots never need to be adjusted or changed based on the learning content, and because of this, the robots can add value to any lesson now or in the future.
Amount Funded
$2663.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$1980 - Bee-Bot Hive Bundle (3 total sets, 1 per TK classroom)
$480 - Bee-Bot Grid Mats (total 6 mats, 2 per classroom)
Shipping
$0.00
Taxes
$203.00
Other funding sources

Yes, there is no other funding available and it would take a lot to raise the money we would need.

File Uploads
Bee-Bot Robots Quote.pdf (10.12 KB)
Supporting Links
Bee-Bot Hive Bundle
Bee-Bot Card Mat