During this lesson, your students will be introduced to some foundational computer science concepts of sequence, pattern recognition, loops and procedures. Unplugged activities are a way to reinforce CS concepts that are introduced in coding apps and puzzle games like LightBot, Code.org, Kodable, etc.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Unit of Study
Students will actively model a sorting network by using what they know about comparing and ordering numbers to learn how computers use algorithms to sort things.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
With advances in AI, it is more important than ever that we consider how humans and computers will interact. How do you want the robots of the future to behave towards you and others? For this activity, students will make a “robot zine” where they will sketch an original robot design, identify how their robot will sense the world around it and write a code of conduct to describe how their robot will interact with humans.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Games have been an integral part of human culture throughout history. They not only entertain, but also inform and change us. Today video games designers bring together art & code to immerse their players in a story. There are video games being created to solve real-world problems and video game players solving scientific mysteries.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Unit of Study
The goal of this activity is to solidify students' understanding of functions: Input/Independent Variable/Domain → Output/Dependent Variable/Range in math and relate that to functions in CS.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
This is the second set of two, 45 minute lessons done with a middle school language arts class to turn their argumentative essay into a scratch project where they convey to their audience their position on whether the benefits of human space travel outweigh the risks or not.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
This is an outline for a lesson that takes place over two approximately 50 minute class periods, during virtual learning. The timing could easily be adapted to work with in person learning. This lesson gets students familiar with the kinds of projects that are available in Scratch, and on the second day gets them looking inside the code and trying to remix some projects that they liked from their review the day before. This is laying the groundwork for the students to create their own Scratch project or game in part 2 of this lesson sequence, which they will use in their language arts class to demonstrate their ability to create a persuasive argument.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Students will be able to use a visual tool to map out a mathematical expression and be able to code into the pyret computing program.
Material Type: Lesson Plan
Students will first follow a set of instructions in a buddy-programming setting, then create a game in which sprites move to specific coordinates to capture food items. Then, pairs will use pair-share-think to offer feedback on other games and compare/contrast programming blocks.
Material Type: Lesson
In this lesson students will relate the concept of algorithms back to everyday real-life activities by planting a seed.
Material Type: Lesson
Students will work in pairs/teams to complete jobs in order to program a Bee-Bot through a grid.
Material Type: Lesson
After watching the introduction video, the students will use Artist Lab on Code.org to remix This Project, and complete a square.Students will realize they have to be very specific with their code to get the square exactly right.After students get the Artist to complete the square they can create their own sequence HERE.Students will then have the artist draw a rectangle. Students can add any extras they want such as brush color and design.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
In this lesson, you will introduce the CS topic of Sequencing to students with an engaging hook, a Use-Modify-Create activity, and a coding challenge in code.org's Artist studio. This was taught virtually, but can easily be adapted for a face-to-face classroom.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Explore the fundamentals of computer science by building an interactive computer model of cells in Scratch. No previous experience in computer programming is required. Programming Cells was created by Dr. Jeff Saucerman, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
