 Discover how real teachers turn everyday math, reading, and geography into high-energy classroom wins.
Great hands-on learning doesn't start with complicated gadgets—it starts with the core subjects you already teach every single day.
In this online session, step inside Jackson Elementary in Butts County, GA, to see how educators are taking everyday math, writing, and social studies lessons and leveling them up using screen-free Sphero Indi cars.
You'll get an inside look at real classroom projects that get kids moving, collaborating, and solving problems:
2nd Grade ELA (narrative writing):Â Students write original stories, using a map to choose a location for their story, and program their robot car to travel through the area.
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4th Grade Math:Â Students code robot cars to navigate errands across a town map, identifying acute, right, and obtuse angles along the way and creating a drawn map with all turns labeled.
Whether you are looking for quick activities you can test out next week or wanting to spark fresh excitement in your building, this session delivers real-world examples from teachers doing the work right now. Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek at how Butts County is building out its brand-new Think Big Space to bring these game-changing experiences to even more students!
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Wendy Blackmon is an Instructional Technology Specialist with Butts County Schools and a former Digital Learning Specialist with Clayton County Public Schools. With more than two decades of experience in education, including 13 years as a music educator, her passion is designing engaging, innovative learning experiences that use technology to support rigorous, standards-based instruction and bring standards to life through authentic, hands-on learning.
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As part of her work, she designed a collection of standards-aligned lessons for the Indi educational car in collaboration with Creative Hut and school personnel to support the district’s vision of empowering students to think critically, solve problems, and make meaningful connections to classroom standards.
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Wendy believes technology is most powerful when it enhances great teaching rather than replacing it. She enjoys helping educators discover practical, innovative strategies that inspire creativity, collaboration, and student engagement while building confidence in integrating technology into meaningful classroom instruction.
Leonora Clarkson is the Director of Teaching and Learning for Butts County Schools, bringing 27 years of experience in education. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of leadership and instructional roles, including Special Education Teacher and Director of Student Services. These experiences have shaped her commitment to supporting educators, improving instructional practices, and ensuring high-quality learning opportunities for all students.
In her current role, Leonora partners with school leaders and teachers to strengthen classroom instruction through strategic coaching, professional learning, and collaborative leadership. As part of Butts County Schools' partnership with Amazon and Creative Hut, she has led efforts to enhance instructional practices and build sustainable systems that support teacher growth and student success.
What You'll Learn:Â By the end of this session, you'll be ready to:
Launch Ready-to-Use Ideas: Grab game-changing project ideas that you can start right away.
Bring Concepts to Life: See how screen-free resources like the Sphero Indi cars help students touch, feel, and visualize abstract math and map skills.
Start with Content First: Discover how to build awesome hands-on lessons around your daily subjects without overwhelming your schedule.
Build Your Space: Get practical insights on expanding hands-on tech across your school.
