Your task as an astronomer is to model the solar system using technology.  You and your crew are just one group that have been asked by NASA to chart the solar system in order to create a simulation model for future astronauts. After you have accomplished this, you will present your model to the Director of NASA. They have given you several requirements for the simulation. Your simulation should include a map of the solar system that shows the appropriate distance, location, size and relation to the sun amongst the eight planets. You and your team can use a variety of options to complete your simulation. These include Google Suite tools (such as Google Slides, Google Docs, Jamboard, or any equivalent tool such as Microsoft Office), Coding resources (Scratch.edu, tynker.edu) or 3D printing software (Tinkercad) to present. Your map should also include a short descriptive paragraph for each planet explaining its distance, location, size, and at least 3 facts about the planet. If creating a video, you will still want to include descriptions for the planets as well as the three facts.  Presentation to “NASA Directors” must answer the question: how does this simulation/model help future scientists?

This activity, created on Quizalize, is from the essential knowledge and vocabulary from the Computer Science SOL 5.7, from the strand Computing Systems.

These Pocket Guides are a quick summary of each of the 6 computer science strands for grades K-8. The pocket guides explain what the strand is about and how it increases in complexity from Kindergarten to 8th grade.

This is a set of printable classroom posters to display terminology and pictures for students.

The pack includes:
Mouse
Printer
Touch screen
Tablet
Mobile Device
Desktop Computer
Keyboard
Laptop

This resource is a downloadable pdf listing common TCP/UDP ports for a computer. It is very useful as a quick reference when trying to find a certain port number.

A lesson plan to introuduce types of technology and basic hardware to kindergarten students. 

In this activity, students and teachers are able to sort components of a computer into 4 categories: input, output, process, and store (memory).
Reinforcing the ability to drag and drop, learners are able to identify and begin developing the purpose of each categorized component.

This activity complements the book Hello Ruby: Journey Inside the Computer by Linda Liukas and was remixed with permission from the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Computer Science Team.

Key concepts include:
mouse
keyboard
printer
microphone
headphones
monitor
controller
camera
temperature sensor
3-D printer
CPU
GPU
ROM
RAM
Hard Drive
Input
Output
Memory
Process

This is a PowerPoint presentation that covers the essential knowledge of the Computer Science standard 3.8 on Computing System about systems and the inputs and outputs of computing systems.

This Quizlet Study Set contains Elementary (K-5) vocabulary from the "Computing Systems" strand of the Virginia Standards of Learning for Computer Science. Students can study the terms with flashcards or try the games to test their knowledge. 

This Quizlet Study Set contains Kindergarten and Grade 1 vocabulary (with pictures) from the "Computing Systems" strand of the Virginia Standards of Learning for Computer Science.

This exit slip should be used after teaching computing systems vocabulary to check for student understanding of concepts covered. 

This slides presentation has a short video about the 4 things that all computing devices have in common and then has picture examples of Input and output devices. It also has a slide of internal components we don't usually see.The final slide is a sorting activity that includes input and output devices.

This lesson will teach students key vocabulary needed to understand computing systems. The lesson starts by showing a BrainPOP video to introduce key vocabulary. Then, the teacher and students will have a class discussion to review the components of a computer. After reviewing, the teacher and students will work together to label the parts of a computer and discuss each component as it is labeled. To wrap up the lesson, the teacher and students will continue to review the computer components by completing the computing systems matching game.

Students and the teacher will work together to complete the Computing Systems Kahoot. Students will complete the Kahoot in a whole group setting, but will have their individual chromebooks to work from. The teacher will read the question and answers to each Kahoot, and students will select the correct choice on their individual chromebooks. As each question is completed have a whole group discussion about the correct answer choice.

This lesson will teach students key vocabulary needed to understand computing systems. The lesson starts by showing a video to introduce key vocabulary terms. Then, teacher and students will have a class discussion to review components of a computer, hardware/software and input/output, and how to resolve problems when using a device. Teacher will facilitate a Kahoot, and students will answer each question individually to review material learned throughout the lesson. To wrap up the lesson, students will be asked to complete an exit slip by matching pictures to the correct terms (hardware, software, input, output).

In this activity, students will create a model of a computer designed to accomplish important tasks that align with their personal interests or the needs of a friend/family member they interviewed in a previous lesson. Then, students will discuss tradeoffs in design: the value judgements computer designers make when they build computers for consumers to purchase.

Vocabulary posters for the Computing Systems strand for Grade 5. Words included are from the 2017 Computer Science Curriculum Framework.

Vocabulary posters for the Computing Systems strand for Grade 6. Words included are from the 2017 Computer Science Curriculum Framework.

Vocabulary posters for the Computing Systems strand for Grade 7. Words included are from the 2017 Computer Science Curriculum Framework.