In "My Weirder-est School: Miss. Aker is a Maker!" by Dan Gutman, learners will enjoy the adventures of AJ and his friends as they learn about the Maker Movement and build their own robot drone.  Students will read two chapters per week of this accessible novel.  Kahoot! review, online discussions, and suggested maker projects and STEM challenges will keep kids engaged and give them opportunities to develop their writing and literacy skills.  Although this class is for all kids , it will be especially helpful for neurodivergent learners with learning differences and reluctant readers who need low reading level high interest books to develop reading fluency and comprehension.  It is designed with supports in mind that help accommodate students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other learning differences.  Students will be able to respond to the text in multiple ways by drawing diagrams, making videos, displaying projects, and contributing to discussions in our online classroom. This is a flexible schedule class which does not meet live.  All interaction will be in our online classroom.  The teacher will contribute to online discussions and provide feedback for student work.

Week 1: Maker Movement

Opening Question:  What kind of things do you like to make or build? Share about some things you have made for yourself or other people.

Watch a video of the teacher reading chapters 1-2 to build engagement.

Contribute to our KWL about the Maker Movement

Read chapters 3-4

Reflection Questions:
What was awesome?
What was a bummer?
What was funny?
Thoughts and  questions

Kahoot! review of Chapters 1-4

Questions for discussion:  Why do you think it would be fun to have your own "Fab Lab"?  What would you put in it?

Challenge of the Week: Can you make a cupcake car, a food sculpture or other delicious invention?  Be sure to take a picture and share it in the classroom when you are done.  Then, be sure to eat your invention...no sense in having that deliciousness go to waste!

Week 2: Droney Comes to Life!

Opening Question:  What do you think is one of the world's greatest inventions?  Why?

Contribute to a KWL about 3-D printers

Read Chapters 5-6

Reflection Questions:
What was awesome?
What was a bummer?
What was funny?
Thoughts and  questions

Kahoot! Review of Chapters 5-6

Questions for discussion: Do you think the events in this book could happen in real life?  Why or why not?

Design your own "robot drone" Draw a diagram and label the different features of the drone.  What can it do?  What problems does it solve?

Challenge of the Week:
Get started on creating your own "Fab Lab" by gathering supplies. It can be a corner of your play area or a box you can move around your house then store when you are done.  Be sure you have a plan for organizing and storing the things you collect. Engineers and scientists need to have a clean and organized workspace so they always know where to find the materials they need. Share a picture in the classroom of what you come up with.

Week 3:

Opening Question: If you could have your own personal robot, what would you have it do for you?

Draw a graphic novel page of your favorite part of the book so far.  Be sure to include both words and pictures.

Read Chapters 7-8
Reflection Questions:
What was awesome?
What was a bummer?
What was funny?
Thoughts and  questions

Kahoot! Review of Chapters 7-8

Questions for Discussion:  What should AJ and his friends have done differently as they designed Droney?  Do you think they can prevent him from taking over the world (or at least Ella-mentry School?  Why or why not?

Challenge of the week:  Build a marshmallow or cotton ball shooter or catapult.


Week 4:

Opening Question:  What are some downsides of technology?  Share any ways you think technology can cause challenges in today's world.

What is a real life problem that could be solved by technology?  Draw a diagram of an imaginary invention that might solve this problem.

Read Chapters 9-10

Reflection Questions:
What was awesome?
What was a bummer?
What was funny?
Thoughts and  questions

Kahoot! Review Ch 9-10

Question for discussion:  The last chapter is called "The Big Surprise Ending".  Was the ending a surprise to you?  Why or why not?

Challenge of the Week: Do a maker project or make a gift for a friend or family member. Share a picture or description in the online classroom.