Michigan Tech is now offering a summer STEAM course for kids from 7th to 10th grade in Traverse City. This course will teach students how to program LEDs to create their very own glowing cloud light show!
The project:
The goal of this project is to introduce STEAM, a combination of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to the youth of Traverse City. This program focuses specifically on the technology and art aspects of STEAM. Over the course of 4 days, students will learn how to program an Arduino microcontroller for a string of multicolor LED lights with its own unique color pattern. Students will then design a cloud structure using paper lanterns wrapped in cotton, and put it all together as a completed floating piece of art. The class will be taught by Jay Meldrum, faculty member of Michigan Tech, with the help of Michigan Tech students.
Suggested grade level:
This course is recommended for kids from 7th to 10th grade. No prior programming experience is required, as this is an introductory level program!
Learning goals:
- Learn how to program an Arduino Uno using the Arduino programming application.
- Learn how to write code to instruct the WS2812 LED strips to light up in their own unique color patterns.
- Be creative! Create your own unique cloud structure to wrap the LED strip around. Choose different LED light settings for a variety of possibilities.
Timing:
- Two courses will be offered throughout the summer:
- The first class will be taught from July 10th to July 13th
- The second class will be taught from July 24th to July 27th
- Both courses will take place over 4 days and will take place from 9 am to 12 pm.
Requirements:
- A course fee $199 is required for each 4 day program.
- All materials including computers, Arduino Uno microcontrollers, LEDs, and cloud building materials will be provided to students.
- At the end of each course, students will be able to keep their Arduino Uno and their Cloud creation!
Sign up now through NMC’s youth programs page!
For more information or questions:
Contact Jay Meldrum at jmeldrum@mtu.edu or 906-281-1069.