Eastview School students dive into creativity and coding for Computer Science Week

Eastview Middle School students were plugged in and powered up Tuesday for Computer Science Week, which transformed the gym into a playground for tech-powered discovery and fitness.

Under the guidance of teacher Dana DeLorto and Physical Education coaches Lee Francisco, David Bergen and John Bivas, dozens of sixth-graders explored six stations that featured coding, robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM careers.

“We want to make sure that every student here at Eastview has access to learn about computer science,” Ms. DeLorto said before the students descended on the gym, which was divided into different areas with cones.

“They get to interact with robots, they do some AI and programming, they get to do some hands-on physical coding offline,” she said. “We really want the kids to just see how coding and AI can be creative, and really hands-on.”

Not all the activities were physical.

“They also have a STEM career exploration where they’re going to get to research different careers in STEM, salaries, what degrees would be required for them,” said Ms. DeLorto, who has been at the school for 14 years.

Her students played a special role during the event: instead of simply participating, they were divided into six groups to lead the stations and assist their classmates in navigating the course.

The program was crafted as an interdisciplinary experience, giving students a chance to explore “basic computer science concepts through movement-based, technology-rich and collaborative activities that promote creativity, problem-solving and digital fluency.”

Each of the six stations lasted 10 minutes, blending physical activity with digital learning as the students rotated through the following stations:

• Programming and AI –  Students explored coding and artificial intelligence directly on their tablets by clicking on various sites, including the Khan Academy, Code with the Grinch and Bootstrap.
• Sphero Robot Bowling – Using round robotic “Sphero” balls, teams raced to knock down as many bowling pins as possible, learning precision, communication and strategy.

• The Living Robot – One student acted as a robot while teammates issued step-by-step commands, guiding them through a maze course that involved jumping over various obstacles.
• Stealth Machines – Using the Tilt It! app and planking platforms, students strengthened their core while controlling a digital ball through body movement alone.
• STEM Career Exploration – Students dove into research on high-tech fields, salaries, required degrees and emerging opportunities across science and engineering.
• AI Fitness Trail – An AI-designed circuit where students scanned QR codes around the gym to reveal different exercises, completing each challenge in sequence.

At the AI Fitness Trail, sixth-grader Ariana Martinez explained how students followed a sequence of exercises.

“Station 6 is basically, you’re gonna be scanning all the clever badges around the room, and then it’s gonna tell you an exercise to do … You go in order,” she said.

Over at the Stealth Machines station, student assistant Serena Sawamukai emphasized the motivational power of combining fitness and technology.

“The machines keep you more motivated while doing a plank… You tilt the screen so the ball stays on the platform,” Serena said. “With the stealth machines, you stay in a plank position while tilting it. It’s more challenging, but it’s also more motivating because it’s fun.”

Sixth-grader Edan Flores, who tried the stealth machines himself, reflected on how the activity strengthened both his skills and his imagination.

“I think it’s fun. I learned how to do a better plank,” he said, adding that one day he hopes to explore places that people haven’t explored yet.

At the Living Robot maze, Valentina Caputo guided students through team-based “offline coding.”

“You’re supposed to lay a program, like a code, down, and the robot — somebody else — is trying to do the maze without making any mistakes,” she explained.

By the end of the lively session, the students had learned far more than coding syntax. They had collaborated, problem-solved, strengthened their bodies and developed confidence using technology in creative ways.