On Thursday, December 12, 2024, Riker Hill Elementary School was buzzing with excitement as Grades 3 to 5 participated in the global "Hour of Code" event. Aimed at inspiring young students to explore the world of coding and robotics, the event brought together district tech coaches and members of the Livingston High School (LHS) Robotics teams—Lancers, Emerald Knights, and Fire—to lead the way. The evening was packed with hands-on learning, showcasing the exciting possibilities of technology.
A Coding Adventure with Tinkercad
The event included a coding lesson that allowed students to dive into the world of design and 3D modeling. Fire Robotics members led the group in using Tinkercad, an intuitive online program that helps beginners create digital models. Through guided instructions, the elementary students were able to explore how coding could bring their ideas to life on their Chromebooks. Participants experimented with different shapes and structures, discovering the power of code to transform their designs.
LHS Robotics Teams Show Off Their Skills
Participants were also treated to an impressive robotics demonstration, where all three LHS Robotics teams—Lancers, Emerald Knights, and Fire—came together to showcase their robots in action. The high school students explained the design strategies behind their bots, highlighting how they built them to compete in robotics challenges. After the presentation, the elementary students had the opportunity to drive the robots themselves!
Indi Robot Challenge: Plan, Code, and Drive!
The fun of coding was brought to life through a hands-on challenge with the Indi robot. Students worked in teams to plan and code a route for the robot, using colored mats and the robot’s color sensor. This interactive activity not only allowed the students to apply coding concepts but also encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking. As they watched their robot follow the path they had designed, it was clear that the next generation of tech innovators was taking its first steps.
Fostering the Future of STEM
The Hour of Code event at Riker Hill Elementary School was more than just a fun evening of learning—it was a celebration of technology, innovation, and creativity. By providing students with opportunities to explore coding and robotics in a hands-on, engaging environment, the event aims to foster an early interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). With the mentorship and guidance of the LHS Robotics teams, these young minds are now better equipped to envision and build the future. High school students who led the event included Aditya Karthik, Raphael Steinberg, Aahana Agrawal, Yug Shah, Claire Gao, Justin Li, Dylan Blum Donato, Riann Sanghani, Manasvi Rajendra, Ahaan George, Ronny Dey, Anya Shukla, Jack Klein, Cole Green, Max Xie, Abhimaan Chandan and Alan Muttappillil.
In addition to providing an opportunity to gain valuable skills, the goal was also to help students develop a sense of excitement and possibility about the world of coding and robotics. Who knows? Perhaps some of them will one day join the ranks of the LHS Robotics teams or become the next generation of tech innovators, inspired by the Hour of Code at Riker Hill!
