|
|
In-School Curriculum
After-School / GATE
Curriculum
Camp Curriculum
PlanetBravo's
technology curriculum instills a wide range of skills as valued by
the
National Educational Technology Standards
as well as our own proprietary technology standards compiled and
written by Academic Director Danny Pezzotta.
Courses vary based on the program offered by PlanetBravo (in-school,
after-school, or a camp), but in each case, the standards are
extremely high and innovative. Our in-school curriculum
is the most comprehensive program you will find in a K-8
environment. Starting in Kindergarten, students are exposed to
integrative technologies, developing their hand-eye coordination and
general computer knowledge. By eighth grade, students are avid
technology users who understand internet safety, ethics, and
responsible use. They can edit video projects for school, animate
digital diagrams, post wikis and blogs, graphically design websites,
and of course, appropriately research and construct reports, analyze
data through spreadsheets and databases, and troubleshoot typical
computer issues! We are very proud of our day-time curriculum
as exemplified below.
|
IN-SCHOOL
CURRICULUM
(where PlanetBravo serves as
Schools' Technology Teachers)
|
|
Grade Level |
Theme |
Technology Typically Covered |
|
Kindergarten |
Technology as a Tool for
Imagination |
Basic Computer Functions, Academic Games
(both online and locally-installed), Word Processing, Digital Art, etc. |
|
First Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Integration |
Academic Games, Basic Word Processing,
Basic Internet Use, Patterns in Graphics, etc. |
|
Second Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Creation |
Computer Art, Desktop Publishing, Web 2.0 Creation
Sites, Photo-Editing, Slide Presentations, Word
Processing with Graphics, etc.
|
|
Third Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Exploration |
Responsible Use, Computer Hardware, Troubleshooting, Web
2.0 creation sites, Word, Basic Excel, Internet
Searches, Keyboarding, etc.
|
|
Fourth Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Communication |
Keyboarding, Internet Research, Podcasting,
Word/Excel/PowerPoint, Sound/Music Creation, Email,
Digital Camera Use,
Video Editing/Montages, Wikis, and Blogs.
|
|
Fifth Grade |
Technology as a Tool for Multimedia
Presentation |
Responsible Internet Use, Multimedia File Types, Video
Editing, Sound, Animation, Multimedia Slideshows,
Computer Science Intro, complex Word Processing with
Mail Merges and Spreadsheets.
|
|
Sixth Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Publication |
Advanced Desktop Publishing!
Letters, Newsletters, Graphic Design, Websites, Wikis,
Blogs,
Collaborative Online Docs, and much more!
|
|
Seventh Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Computation |
Excel Spreadsheets, Databases, Analyzing Data, Basic
Computer Programming, Video Game Creation, Complex
Queries, etc.
|
|
Eighth Grade |
Technology as a Tool for
Culmination |
Video Production, Animation, Graphic Design,
Programming, Web Design, and creating an online
portfolio of multimedia projects.
|
|
AFTER-SCHOOL /
GATE CURRICULUM
(PLEASE NOTE: these offerings
change seasonally)
|
|
Grade Levels |
Course Title |
Basic Description |
|
K-2 |
Digital Photography |
Proper Camera Handling, Fun Camera Tricks and Important
Techniques, Tripod Use, Transferring to Computer, Fun
Photo Editing.
|
|
K-2 |
Math & Logic Games |
Course consists of 3-units per session: typical math
work, logic exercises, and strategy games - all played
on the computers!
|
|
K-2 |
Claymation Creation
|
Students construct clay masterpieces and bring them to
life through stop-motion animation.
|
|
K-2 |
LEGO-Motion |
Same as Claymation, but students use LEGOs!
|
|
K-2 / 3-5 |
Cartoon Animation |
Students utilize online tools and programs like Scratch
and Flash to animate narrative stories.
|
|
K-2 / 3-5 |
Special Effects |
Using Green Screens and tricky camera techniques,
students create DVDs filled with eye-popping special
effects!
|
|
2-6 |
Podcast Production
|
Students conceive, produce, and edit their own original
theme-based podcasts. Students publish to PlanetBravo's
iTunes channel for instant downloads to iPods and other
devices.
|
|
2-8 |
Scratch Programming
|
Using MIT's Scratch program, students become computer
scientists by dragging and dropping "logic blocks" while
making games and cartoons.
|
|
3-5 / 6-8 |
Robotics
Engineering |
VEX Design Systems allow the students to construct their
very own robots for an interactive challenge at the
conclusion of the course.
|
|
4-8 |
Website Creation |
Students use several online and free tools to develop
their own published websites.
|
|
4-8 |
Video Game Creation
|
Depending on licensing, PlanetBravo utilizes several
sources to teach the students how to make their very own
Video Games.
|
|
4-8 |
Journalism |
Teamwork, Objectivity, Intellectual Property, and
Professionalism are just some of the principles taught
in this class that has the students creating a school
newspaper.
|
|
4-8 |
Graphic Design |
Students create advertisements, posters, and logos in
this class that prepares them to work in a
graphics-oriented world.
|
|
TYPICAL CAMP
CURRICULUM
(PLEASE NOTE: these offerings
change seasonally)
|
|
 |
Grades
2-3 |
NEW in 2010!
In this construction and animation course, students build their own LEGO
creations, then bring them to life in
stop-motion movies! This class is half building, half
creating with a tripod-mounted camera. Students even
get to edit their own stop-motion movies on the
computer! Everyone leaves class with digital movies
of their LEGOs coming to life. |
Where
is this class offered? |
|
 |
Grades
2-3 |
Our youngest campers get a chance to create their own video games! Using
MIT Media Lab's Scratch program, students learn the
basics of programming with drag-and-drop blocks of
code. They learn how computers "think!" This course
is a must for our young video game enthusiasts.
Software used: Scratch (Windows/Mac) |
Where
is this class offered? |
|
 |
Grades
2-3 |
Consider this course an introduction to all of the
digital bells and whistles of the 21st century!
Students in this course study multiple forms of
digital art and entertainment; including graphic
design, music creation, animation, and more!
Software used: Photoshop, Acid, Pinnacle, PowerPoint
(Windows/Mac) |
Where is this class offered? |
|
|
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
Techno-tainment Camp's signature course, Single-player
Video Game Design uses Multimedia Fusion to
let students create their own games. Using a simple
drag-and-drop level creator and a logic-based
if/then programming style, it takes only a few hours
for students to get their games up and running. From
racers to brick breakers to platform games to RPGs,
the only limit on this class is your imagination!
No experience necessary! Students still take
this course after 5 years of attending!
Software used: Multimedia Fusion
Click
HERE
to see past years' games!! |
Where is this class offered? |
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
Pre-requisite: Single Player Video Game
Design.
NEW in 2010!
Video games were made to be played by multiple
people, and this class will focus on creating games that many people
can enjoy. From split-screens and turn-by-turn games, to the
complicated world of network gaming, multiplayer video game design
will challenge even the most experienced of Fusion users to create
an enjoyable experience for the Luigis of the world, and not just
the Marios.
Software used: Multimedia Fusion |
Where is this class offered? |
|
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
This course features everything a young filmmaker
needs to create their own digital video masterpiece!
In one week's time, students write, produce, direct,
shoot, and edit their own movie. Don't think it can
be done? Our students have created over 150 movies
since
this course started in 2003!
Software used: Pinnacle Studio, Acid Music
Click
HERE
to see past years' movies!!! |
Where is this class offered? |
 |
Grades
4-9 |
NEW in 2010!
At PlanetBravo, we've
given students the opportunity to use editing
software to add in effects like green screen,
picture-in-picture, and sound effects in the past.
This year, we're taking it to the next level by
offering an entire course in special effects and the
incredible things that can be done in post
production.
Software used: After Effects, Pinnacle Studio |
Where
is this class offered? |
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
NEW in 2010!
Have you ever wanted to be a reporter? A news
anchor? Maybe even a weather man or woman? If so,
then Broadcast Journalism is the class for you. Pick
up a microphone and camera as you work with a group
of other students to research topics, write reports,
then produce your own news show complete with
headlines, interviews, and more!
Software used: Pinnacle Studio, Acid Music |
Where is this class offered? |
|
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
The most popular class for the artistically
inclined, graphic design provides the opportunity to
see how computers and art come together.
Students in this class will explore professional
elements of graphic design. Students will create
magazine covers, advertisements, posters, and other
cool designs using the most important digital tools
of the day.
Software used: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and more! (Windows/Mac) |
Where is this class offered? |
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
The most popular tool for animating is back at camp
in its own course! Students draw and animate their
own cartoons in Flash using multiple layers, tweens,
frame-by-frame, guide layers, and much more. The
course ends with the students uploading their
creations to the web to share with anyone they want!
Software used: Adobe Flash (Windows/Mac)
Click
HERE
to see some student cartoons!!! |
Where is this class offered? |
|
 |
Grades
4-9 |
The standard in 3D Animation returns to camp. The same
program used by the pros will be explored in this
innovative course. Maya has been used to create so
many 3D animated features in the last 10 years!
Although this program is extremely challenging,
students will develop an understanding of
three-dimensional space in animation, as well as the
ability to model figures, light scenes, and keyframe
pieces of animation.
Software used: Maya 3D
(Windows/Mac) |
Where is this class offered? |
|
|
|
 |
Grades
6-9 |
Using the Vex Design System, students explore the
world of engineering by building their own robots
and entering them in fun challenges at the end of
the week. This is the fifth year this course is
offered at Techno-tainment Camp!
Click
HERE
to see the Robots in action!!! |
Where is this class offered? |
|
|
 |
Grades
6-9 |
A critical course for tomorrow's creative designer
and/or entrepreneur. Students create their very own
website using several cool programs and end the week
with their masterpiece posted on the web! All
precautions are taken to protect the student's
privacy. Sites are password protected upon request.
Software used: DreamWeaver, Photoshop, Flash, and more!
(Windows/Mac) |
Where is this class offered? |
|
|
