Recently we had the awesome opportunity to take part in STEM Day at Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy in the Norristown Area School District. We spent the day with their bright and energetic 6th-grade students, diving into the world of coding and robotics.

The session was led by Becky, who guided students through a series of hands-on, challenge-based activities using the Finch Robot 2.0 from BirdBrain Technologies. The Finch is an incredibly engaging tool that makes programming approachable, fun, and interactive for learners of all levels.

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Here’s what the students explored:

• Maze Navigation
  Using a maze taped out on the classroom floor, students coded their Finch Robots to make their way through the course. This challenge required them to think critically about movement, direction, and timing—testing and tweaking their code until their Finch completed the path successfully.

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•  Speed & Distance Challenges
  Students experimented with how far and fast they could get the Finch to travel. By adjusting variables in their code, they were introduced to concepts like measurement, velocity, and real-time problem-solving in a fun and competitive way.

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• Micro:Bit Name Displays
  Each student also got to program a Micro:Bit, a tiny, powerful microcontroller, to show their name across the LED screen. This simple but satisfying task gave them a chance to personalize their tech and see instant feedback from their code.

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Throughout the day, the room was full of energy and creativity. Students were excited, focused, and curious, testing ideas, helping each other troubleshoot, and celebrating their successes. For many, it was their first time coding or interacting with robotics, but they jumped right in and blew us away with how quickly they picked things up.

Big shoutout to the amazing educators and staff at Eisenhower for inviting us in, and to BirdBrain Technologies for creating tools that inspire the next generation of innovators.

Want to bring an experience like this to your school?
Check out Fluxspace Resources for more STEM learning opportunities and tools to ignite student engagement.

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