Spotlight: Orchard Seventh Grader Programmed, Coded and Built Arcade From Scratch

Even though Carson is a seventh-grade student at Orchard, he’s really an old soul at heart chasing after all things vintage, including an 8mm film projector he recently purchased. He also claims to be the only person his age who still willingly uses a VCR.
 
Last year, Carson was in the market to buy an old arcade system. He started researching online and eventually found a guy who refurbishes old arcades by using a Raspberry PI, which is a small computer that you can use to learn programming. This sparked Carson’s interest in creating his own arcade. He ran the idea by his technology teachers here at Orchard to figure out if it was even possible.
 
“I wouldn’t have made it at all if my teachers wouldn’t have helped me come up with it. I thought it was going to be impossible, but I figured I’d ask them anyway,” he said. “Reegan (Miss. Homburg | Middle School Technology Teacher) was really supportive and helped me come up with new ideas like wiring a light strip.”
 
Eventually, Carson ordered the parts from a website but wasn’t happy with the directions or the pieces. “First step...throw the instructions away,” he said. He decided to build almost everything from scratch, with a little help from his dad during construction.
 
In terms of coding the controls, hardware and programming the Raspberry PI, that was all Carson.
 
The arcade has a plethora of games including the classics such as, Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat and Pac-Man. It also has the ability to swap out the old arcade style controls for a keyboard or a handheld controller.
 
Naturally, Orchard teachers used this opportunity to advance Carson’s academic success, self-confidence and leadership skills. This is something Carson’s parents have always loved about Orchard.
 
“Without Orchard, Carson would not be the person he is today. Orchard has let him grow and learn in a manner that was just right for Carson,” Chad and Connie said. “Carson has always had big ideas, thoughts and Orchard has always allowed him to grow those.”
 
Carson’s technology teacher asked him to bring the arcade in and present the process to his classmates. During the National Hour of Code, fourth grade classrooms made time in their schedule for Carson to talk with their students. He kept each classroom engaged as he discussed how he pushed through the challenges of designing his own arcade. This is a prime example of progressive education and honoring a child’s voice to create a love of learning.


*Carson is explaining some of the challenges he faced during the creation process
 
“In first grade when they did the ocean unit, Carson literally made a giant squid to scale,” Connie said reflecting on previous Orchard teachers. “What other school would have allowed him to work in the hallway on a 60-foot project? In third grade, his passions started moving towards making videos, editing, etc. His teachers embraced it and he flourished!”
 
Connie and Chad feel like his freedom to grow as a valued individual at Orchard will have him fully prepared for high school and beyond. “What has amazed us the most is how confident he is in talking about high school and how confident he seems knowing he and his friends will likely go in different directions,” Carson's parents said. The goal for Carson is to take classes in high school that will set him up to study film making in college!

Only at Orchard! 
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    • Before we went into the classroom, Carson mentioned he didn't know what to say and he was going to "wing it." He spoke confidently, kept everyone engaged and answered questions with ease.

    • Lots of questions from curious fourth graders.

    • Carson let everyone in class try out Pac-Man...they LOVED it!