CYC's Coding Club Explores the Circuit Playground

One of CYC’s core content areas is STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) learning. Our STEAM programs provide youth with hands-on, project-based opportunities that encourage them to dream, design, and build. Not only do these programs offer exposure to a wealth of new experiences for CYC students, but the courses also provide access to new technologies, equipment, and expert one-on-one instruction, all designed to help youth thrive in the 21st century job market. 

CYC was thrilled to host our first in-person Museum of Science and Industry Science Club since COVID-19: Coding (Circuit Playground). This hands-on coding experience was designed for students to learn about digital input and output controls, and how these controls work together to solve problems. Our team piloted the program module at Pershing Elementary School in Bronzeville, CYC’s newest school partnership, and, needless to say, the club was a huge hit! 24 fifth graders enrolled in the class, along with 11 fourth graders and 16 third graders. 

During the program session, youth were taught how to use code to program different inputs and outputs (such as sound and light) to create useful items such as alarms and night lights! They were also introduced to and learned how to program components they weren’t familiar with, such as light sensors, accelerometers, and thermal sensors. 

STEAM Program Manager Steven Willis was proud to see students working together during the club. “The CYC Coding Club enriches teacher-student engagement at Pershing Elementary,” he said. “The students were challenged to think critically and collaborate while becoming familiar with how the circuit playground functions.”

Students were especially excited to learn about the input and output components, as well as computer and digital processing. Projects such as these encourage youth to think creatively and have fun, all while preparing them for future jobs in engineering, computer programming, and invention. 

We are especially grateful for our new partnership with Pershing Elementary, and look forward to hosting more STEAM Clubs in the near future.