TinkerCAD

Today was the first day of TinkerCAD.

We had a great turnout and we ran the newcomers through the tutorial on how TinkerCAD works.

Once the students have mastered the basics, we'll turn them loose to design a 3D object of their choosing and at the end of our 4-day class we will print them out in PLA plastic on our Makerbot Replicator 3D printer!

L.E.D. Ghosts!

Today we learned about L.E.D.s or Light Emitting Diodes, and combined them with coin batteries, pop bottles and a sheet to make a creepy light-up Halloween ghost decoration!

BOO!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hour of Code

Today was Hour of Code!

This is our monthly code session where we hang out and practice coding. If you're new to coding you can dip your toe in the water by visiting www.Code.org.

In the future we'd like to offer more Hour of Code sessions so keep your eyes peeled!

MaKEY MaKEY Music - Day 4

Today was the last day for our music making class. The kids have been working hard to complete their masterpieces!

Here's a sample of Armando's avant garde masterpiece!

MaKEY MaKEY Mixcraft - Day 3

Today is the 2nd to last day of MaKEY MaKEY Mixcraft!  Our recording artists are a little behind.  With only today and Thursday left to complete their masterpieces will they have enough time?!?

Stay tuned to find out!

MaKEY MaKEY Music - Day 2

Today is the second day of MaKEY MaKEY Music!  The students received a crash course in how to create music in Mixcraft and now they are assembling the inputs for their virtual instruments!

Next up: creating a sonic masterpiece!

MaKEY MaKEY Music - Day 1

Today was the first day of MaKEY MaKEY Mixcraft.  This is the class where we use the popular MaKEY MaKEY kit as an input device for the computer and then use that input as a MIDI instrument in the audio editing program Mixcraft!

Sound complicated?  It is!  Sound awesome?  It is!

This is a 4-part class and we're just getting introduced to the MaKEY MaKEY kits today.  We'll post our awesome creations on Soundcloud on the last day!

September Hour of Code

Every month PNG holds an Hour of Code at the Elmwood Park Public Library.

Whether you've never coded before or you invented Johnny No. 5, all are welcome to come hang out, work separately or together on some fun coding activities!

Soldering - Final Day

Today was the last day of soldering in PNG and it really came down to the wire!  (ahem... sorry).

Lets take a look at the results!

Soldering - Day 3

Today is the 3rd day of soldering and we are in the home stretch!  Everything is looking good and we are on track to finish by Thursday!

Soldering - Day 2

Today was the second day of soldering.  We are making good progress!  2 more days and we hope to be finished!

Soldering - Day 1

Today was our first day of Soldering.  We had the mandatory safety tips for the first part of class and then we started actually did some soldering.  We're putting together a kit that will make a car when we're all finished!

Silhouettes and Photography - Day 2

Today was the second and final day of Silhouettes and Photography.  We had much better luck with the machines, thanks to Omar's help.

Only one of our students returned but his final result was pretty cool!

Silhouettes & Photography - Day 1

Today was the first day of our Silhouettes and Photography class.  To say it didn't go well would be an understatement.  We're pretty sure the vinyl cutter only works for Omar and Omar wasn't here today.  We wanted to go outside and take photo, but it was rainy and nasty all day.

Oh well, here's hoping for better luck on Thursday.

PNG Fall 2015 Schedule

Fall will soon be here and with it a brand new slate of PNG classes! 

PNG is a series of technology classes for kids 6th and up. We meet most Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4pm - 5pm.  It's free and fun and best of all there's no homework! 

 Sign up for any and all of the PNG classes that sound good to you! 

September

Geography: GoogleMaps Smarty Pins - 9/1

Test your geography skills with an hour of playing Smarty Pins.  Smarty Pins is a Google Maps game that tests your geography knowledge with trivia questions.  Let's see who can get the high score!

Silhouettes & Photography - 9/8 - 9/10

Learn how to compose a photograph, and how to use Photoshop along with our awesome Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine to add a really unique and artistic presentation to your photos!

Soldering - 9/15 - 9/24

Join this Project Next Generation class if you want to learn how to solder!  We've got cool electronics kits that light up, drive and scurry.  When you're finished you can take your creation home with you and you'll be an expert in circuitry and soldering!

Hour of Code - 9/29

Not only is coding massively important to the fabric of your digital world, coding can also be pretty fun!  Sign up for this quick introduction to activities on Code.org and play fun games while learning the fundamentals of basic coding! 

October

Makey Makey Music - 10/6 - 10/15

Let's use Makey Makey sensors to create our own beat machine out of stuff we have lying around and then build a song around our creations!

Hour of Code - 10/27

Not only is coding massively important to the fabric of your digital world, coding can also be pretty fun!  Sign up for this quick introduction to activities on Code.org and play fun games while learning the fundamentals of basic coding! 

LED Ghosts - 10/29

Let's make some spooky D.I.Y. "ghosts" using ordinary items and some simple L.E.D.'s (light emitting diodes), batteries and magnets!

November

TinkerCAD - 11/3 - 11/12

Let's use the computer to create 3D models and then print them out on the Makerbot Replicator!  This 4-part class will teach you the basics of 3D design and how to use Tinkercad.com to create 3D objects that can be printed on any 3D printer!

Vinyl CutThanksgiving Tablescapes - 11/17 - 11/19

Need decorations for your Thanksgiving table?  Don't go to the store, let's design them ourselves and make them real using our Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine!

Hour of Code - 11/24

Not only is coding massively important to the fabric of your digital world, coding can also be pretty fun!  Sign up for this quick introduction to activities on Code.org and play fun games while learning the fundamentals of basic coding! 

Hour of Code

Today is the last day of PNG Summer!

We hung out and had an Hour of Code.  Students were allowed to work on whatever they wanted so long as it had something to do with coding!

And don't worry, even though it's the last day of PNG's Summer schedule a whole new slate of classes for the Fall are right around the corner.

Stay tuned, we'll be announcing the new schedule here shortly!

Reality TV - Day 4: Citizen Cake

Today was the last day of our Reality TV project!  Only one student actually finished their edit in time, and that edit is going to take another 37 minutes to render and save.

We'll upload it as soon as possible!  Can't wait to see the results.

Reality TV - Day 3: Cut & Taste

The editors are hard at work editing. We're trying to explain how in most reality TV shows no shot lasts longer than 3 seconds! Cut Cut Cut!!!!

Reality T.V. - Day 2! Emmy or Bust

Today we started the editing process. We are trying to make this as realistic to the actual Iron Chef show as possible with the hopes of putting the video on the Library's Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. We are slowly getting to a presentable (and quite enjoyable) T.V. show... So stay tuned!

Reality T.V. - Day 1! Kooking with Kubrick

Today was filming day! We joined forces with an other program to make Iron Chef: Elmwood Park. PNG got to film the entire event while the other program cooked food for our staff (A.K.A. Judges). Everyone had a blast and we are going to begin the long and tedious editing process.