I signed up 2 summer camps for my daughters within this California trip.
- STEAM Robotics
- Gymnastics
both were 5 half-days, Mon. to Fri. I intended to let the girls experienced what American classes were like. Let them feel the differences betweem Hong Kong and the States. If they developed interests on such topics, great! If not, still some nice experiences to them.
在這次加州行程中，我為兩位女兒報名參加了兩個暑假興趣班：
- STEAM 機械人班
- 體操班
兩個興趣班都是為期五天，星期一至五，每日半天。我希望她們能感受一下美國課堂是怎麼樣的一回事。讓她們知道香港跟美國上課時有什麼不同。如果她們發展出一些興趣來，當然是好。不然，對她們來說亦是難得的經驗。
STEAM is the short form of : Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics. I enrolled them in a workshop about Robotics. I had no idea what kind of robot those little 5 to 12 years old were going to build, but I pretty sure that would be something new to my girls!
STEAM 就是 科學(S), 科技(T), 工程(E), 文學(A), 及數學(M) 的意思。雖然我替她們報了機械人興趣班，我可不知道那些5至12歲的孩子們會用上什麼樣的機械人。不管怎樣，都應該是個好的經驗吧！
With this technical class, I would like to keep the girls balance with something physical, so I put them in the Gymnastic camp. My friends' daughter attended this one for many years and I liked all the gymnastic moves she showed to us. Hope our girls could also learn some this time.
有文靜的課堂，當然要有活動課去平衡一下。所以我亦為她們報了體操興趣班。我朋友的女兒已經參加了多年這些體操班，我發覺她已經會做很多不俗的體操動作。不知我女兒們可否學上一些。
STEM Robotics / 機械人興趣班
This class started Monday afternoon in an elementary school close-by.
星期一下午開始第一堂，地點就在附近的一所小學
We arrived briefly before starting time and the first thing we had to do was to find out where was the classroom.
我們在開課前不久到達。 首先要做的是找到課室。
The instructor and other kids were inside already.
原來導師跟其他小孩子已經在內。
The girls went inside and we had a short discussion with the instructor, then we left. In our way out, we checked out the campus.
女孩子們跑入課室，我們亦跟導師談了幾句。離開之時，我們趁機會參觀了一下這所小學。
After everyday's class, I asked the girls what did they do that day, here is a summary:
Day 1. build a simple on wheel robot that will move forward and backward according to the commands entered at the front panel
Day 2. add a colour sensor and a barrier sensor to the robot, program the robot to move according to the colour lines and barriers put one the table
Day 3. Build another robot which is more complex
Day 4. Complete the robot they built on day 3 with all sensors and controller connected.
Day 5. Program the robot with the control panel
每天下課後，我都會問問她們當天做了什麼。
第一天：建立一只用車輪行走的機械。它會跟隨輸入的指令，向前，向後行走。
第二天：為那機械加上感應器，再編程令它依照枱面上放置好的顏色線和障礙物行走。
第三天：建立另一只比較複雜的機械人
第四天 : 完成之前一天那只機械人，為其那上所有感應器
第五天：為機械人編程
Over the course of that week, I kept wondering what kind of robots they were using. Finally at last day of the class, I had a chance to look into the toolbox.
我一直都想知到底她們用的是什麼機械人，到了最後一天，終於有機會看到了。
The kids were using Lego Mindstorm! That sounds very fun to me. In order to find an excuse to buy one set of those when we are back to Hong Kong, I asked my daughters : "Do you gals like this class? Building robot was fun, right?"
原來是Lego的Mindstorm! 好像非常有趣呀！ 為了找個理由去買一套，我問女兒們：「喜歡這興趣班嗎？機械人是不是很有趣？」
They responsed : "NO! We don't like that!"
但是她們異口同聲的說：「沒興趣！」
What is failure! No excuse to buy... NO, I mean they didn't like dealing with machines and coding!
失敗呀！買不到...不對，是沒想到她們對機械和編程一點興趣都沒有呀！
Let's see how did they like the Gymnastic camp in the following week.
唯有期待一下她們的體操班吧！
Want to see what the girls experienced in Bay area California?
Saratoga Farmers' Market / 薩拉托加農夫市場