Category: Education

Education, Kids, Reviews, School, STEM Learning, Tips and Tricks

Learn How To Make Your Own Animation Videos – Online Course

Erin Sluka
Learn How To Make Your Own Animation Videos - Online Course

This summer I sat our youngest down as we do all our boys through the years and made a summer learning plan. On one hand I do not want to destroy their summer break, yet I know that the summer slide is real and it can take several weeks to get back into learning mode when it has disappeared so many months. In all of my research and own trials, just 20 minutes a day is enough. So, I try to find fun ways to incorporate some learning.

Anthony had asked for some animation tablet accessories for his birthday last spring and has been wanting to learn to use it. We discovered Outschool that has so many online courses for kids from subjects to how-to’s like how to make your own animation videos, how to code, etc. and STEM-inspired. They even have different ‘video game’ related learning. He found a course and we signed up: How To Make Awesome Animated Movies.

Here is a very brief overview of Anthony’s course below:

Anthony logged on every Thursday from 3-3:50 for 4 weeks. Each week they were given a lesson and then for the week had a (fun) assignment to share next class.

Once you register for a course at Outschool or even join their email list you get notified every time new classes start or are added. There are so many! And some classes are just a couple of dollars. You see who teaches the classes and can click on their profiles, options for class times and all you will need before day one such as programs to download or equipment you’ll need, etc. By the time the class starts everyone should be ready to roll so it is seamless.

Being as how my son took a class that mainly consisted of his age group (you can sort classes by age group so younger kids don’t end up in teens classes and vice versa) some kids were setting up solo and needed extra help, but the Teacher was good about allowing a few moments to walk these kids through it and move on for the rest of the class. You always have access to direct message your Teacher too if you have questions you need to ask without the entire class. It was a fun experience and a great way to add some extra learning at home.

Head over to the online courses at Outschool today and find something fun to learn about!

Comment: Samples were sent for feature. Opinions are my own

Education, Toy Reviews

Codi the Educational Robot for Kids

Erin Sluka
Codi the Educational Robot for Kids

Looking for screen-free, educational toys? They are hard to find these days. Codi the educational robot is an educational robot that plays songs, tells stories, teaches habits, sends messages and answers questions. Also, Codi helps put your kids to bed at night and at nap time!

codi robot

Below is a video showing all of his best features and how when you load the free Codi Parent app you can do so much more. The app is available in Google Play and Apple store. Just download, connect Codi and he will be at his full potential.

Codi comes with a blue and white outfit, but there are more additional outfits you can buy separately to personalize Codi.

codi outfits

I love how customizable Codi is for parents!

  • Control what you want or do not want your child to listen to
  • See what your child has been playing
  • Set volume controls
  • Set guided routines when it’s time to clean up, brush their teeth, etc.

See more about Codi on the Pillar website and he is also available from Amazon.

Children's Books, Education, Kids

2 Special Educational Needs (SEN) Children’s Books – ADHD and Dyslexia

Erin Sluka

There is a new series called SEN Superpowers. The series celebrates the positive traits associated with a range of common SEN (Special Education Needs) specialties, boosting the confidence and strength-awareness of children with those conditions, while also allowing for better understanding and positivity among their peers. This series is by Quarto.

Someone has been stealing food from Snowball, the classroom pet bunny! Can Izzy use her SEN Superpowers to track down the culprit and save the day? SEN Superpowers: The Classroom Mystery explores the topic of ADHD.

When I was younger they called it ‘spacing out’, ‘rude’ or ‘unable to pay attention’. We know ADHD to be a superpower now and in this series the focus on one task helps a classroom pet.

When Sammy’s group loses their map on a camping trip, can he use his SEN Superpowers to save the day and lead them safely back to the campsite? SEN Superpowers: The Map Challenge explores the topic of dyslexia.

Words are only a part of a story. There are challenges and advantages to dyslexia and this story shines on both for Sammy.

These 2 books are available now on Amazon and more information and locations for purchase at Quarto!

Education, Kids, Non-seasonal, STEM Learning

Build and Code Your Own Tablet with Kano

Erin Sluka

What projects do you have planned with the kids this summer? We are building and coding a tablet! That’s right, we will build our very own tablet that will be touchscreen and download apps and play on it with or without a keyboard. With Kano, making your own tablet is easier than you think.

The booklet comes with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions and the parts are sturdy and brightly colored to match the illustrations as you move along and build and code your own tablet. My son had his box opened and was connecting pieces in minutes.

The best part is that they get to touch the pieces, connect the board, buttons and bits. They learn how a tablet works because they understood the reasoning to each step.

If you get stuck they have a great help section with solutions to any problem no matter how small or big.

Once the tablet is built there are a few things you can do. You can code your own games, music and art in Playground Mode. You can even hack Minecraft and do more advanced coding with real Javascript or Python.

The Story Mode app brings an in-depth look at how his computer works with challenges to complete and level up. The apps have hundreds of hours’ worth of coding challenges and games. Also, you can also download apps from the Kano app store like you would with any tablet.

To really turn their tablet into something spectacular, try the Harry Potter Coding Kit where you can build a wand, learn to code and make magic in the Harry Potter app. Available in the Kano store.

The Pixel Kit is fun as well because you get to make and code dazzling lights as well as build art and animation on a pixel box using a Kano app for help.

Get your Kano Computer Kit Touch today