Ellis is strongly committed to and succeeding in engaging more girls in STEM learning and careers. In 2014, 29% of Ellis graduates said they intend to major in a STEM in college. This is nearly twice the national average of 15% of girls who say they plan to major in STEM subject areas. Computer science is also one of the most popular electives in our Upper School.

On Tuesday, December 9

• Ellis kindergartners used Kodable, an app on the iPads, to learn basic computer coding skills and logic. Students used right, left, up and down arrows to move through mazes that grow increasingly more complex.  The girls had to give step-by-step instructions to move the characters through the maze. 
• Ellis third graders will engage in 40 minutes of Kodable plugged and unplugged activities on iPads in the Lower School computer lab.
• 3rd graders will spend an hour in the LS computer lab using computer drawing applications to engage in "Frozen" drawing activities and will earn Hour of Code certificates.

On Wednesday, December 10

• 10th graders in the Upper School Culture in Context class will spend up to three hours using Verso to brainstorm and will code in MIT's App Inventor to make a Public Art mobile app.
• 7th graders will meet after lunch in the MS computer lab after to use Made with Code Snowflake and write a reflection about their work.
• 8th graders will spend 1.5 hours in the Middle School computer lab engaging in Khan Academy Java Script drawing challenges and projects.
• 4th graders will spend an hour in the LS computer lab using computer drawing applications to engage in "Frozen" drawing activities and will earn Hour of Code certificates.

On Thursday, December 11

• Upper School Creative Programming students will spend an hour in the CoLaboratory testing Hour of Code mobile apps on their own and writing reflections in their Code Journal. Last week the students prepped by using the MIT App Inventor tool.
• 6th graders will spend 40 minutes in the MS computer lab using computer drawing applications to engage in "Frozen" drawing activities, will earn certificates, and will text their code to their families.
• 6th graders will also spend an hour in the MS art studio using programs including Pixel art, in TouchDevelop, and Bit Magic Trick.

On Friday, December 12

• 5th traders will spend 40 minutes in the MS computer lab  using computer drawing applications engaging in "Frozen" drawing activities, earning certificates, and texting their code to their families.