CS Discoveries 2020-2021

Resources

Unit 1 - Problem Solving and Computing

Lesson 1: Intro to Problem Solving
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students

For each group

  • 2 sheets of aluminum foil, 5x5 inches in length each
  • 1 container that can hold 3-5 inches of water
  • Several paper towels or rags that can be placed under the container
  • 15 pennies
  • One copy of the activity guide

For the teacher

  • 1 container that can hold 3-5 inches of water
  • 50 pennies
  • Extra paper towels or rags
Lesson 2: The Problem Solving Process
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students

For each student

  • Print a copy of Activity Guide

For the class

  • Poster paper
  • Markers/colored pencils
Lesson 3: Exploring Problem Solving
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print the activity guide for each student
  • Scratch paper for the Birthday Party problem
  • Poster to record strategies for defining problems in wrap up discussion
Lesson 4: What is a Computer?
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students

For each group

  • Print out copies of the activity guide. Note there are two sets of pictures, but each group only needs a single set.
  • Scissors (if you will not have time to cut the pictures prior to class)
  • Poster paper
  • Markers or colored pencils
  • Glue or tape to attach pictures
Lesson 5: Input and Output
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Prepare copies of the activity guide
Lesson 6: Processing
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 7: Storage
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the activity guide for each student
Lesson 8: Project - Propose an App
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 9: Intro to Problem Solving - Newspaper Table (Alternate Lesson 1)
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students

For each group

  • 2 full newspapers for each group of students
  • 1 roll of tape for each group of students
  • One copy of the activity guide

For the teacher

  • 10-20 books of similar weight.
Lesson 10: Intro to Problem Solving - Spaghetti Bridge (Alternate Lesson 1)
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students

For each group

  • 1 pound of dry spaghetti noodles (about 1 box)
  • 1 glue gun
  • One copy of the activity guide

For the teacher

  • 10-20 books of similar size and weight
Lesson 11: Intro to Problem Solving - Paper Tower (Alternate Lesson 1)
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students

For each group

  • 20 sheets of paper, 8.5 x 11 inches
  • Space to build their tower
  • One copy of the activity guide

For the teacher

  • Extra paper
  • Timer
  • Ruler
Lesson 12: Exploring Problem Solving - Animals Theme (Alternate Lesson 3)
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print the activity guide for each student
  • Prepare tangrams for students, or print out one tangram sheet and get scissors for each group.
  • Poster to record strategies for defining problems in wrap up discussion
Lesson 13: Exploring Problem Solving - Games Theme (Alternate Lesson 3)
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print the activity guide for each student
  • Scratch paper for the Partner Race Relay problem
  • Poster to record strategies for defining problems in wrap up discussion

Unit 2 - Web Development

Lesson 1: Exploring Web Pages
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the activity guide for each student.
Lesson 2: Intro to HTML
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Review the Code Studio levels
Lesson 3: Headings
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Have student journals ready to give back.
  • If you want to use an anchor chart, prepare poster paper to do so as a whole class.
Lesson 4: Mini-Project: HTML Web Page
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print out a copy of the project guide for each student.
Lesson 5: Digital Footprint
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print out copies of "Social Sleuth" for each student (or one for each group if grouping)
Lesson 6: Styling Text with CSS
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Create a new poster titled CSS Properties if your students will not be tracking new CSS properties in their journals
Lesson 7: Mini-Project: Your Personal Style
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the project guide for each student.
Lesson 8: Intellectual Property
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Preview Creative Commons Overview - Video. You may need to download it before school if YouTube is blocked.
Lesson 9: Using Images
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 10: Websites for Expression
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Prepare journals or optionally print copies of the activity guide
Lesson 11: Styling Elements with CSS
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 12: Your Web Page - Prepare
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print out one copy of the activity guide for each student.
Lesson 13: Project - Personal Web Page
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Ensure students have access to the Project Guide from the last lesson.
  • Print copies of the reflection and peer feedback documents.
Lesson 14: Websites for a Purpose
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 15: Team Problem Solving
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 16: Sources and Research
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the Internet Scavenger Hunt activity guide for each pair of students, or prepare to project the questions to the class.
  • Create a blank poster titled Trustworthiness Checklist and place it on the wall.
Lesson 17: CSS Classes
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 18: Planning a Multi-Page Site
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 19: Linking Pages
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Make sure students have access to their website plans from the previous lesson.
Lesson 20: Project - Website for a Purpose
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 21: Peer Review and Final Touches
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the peer review guide for each student.

Unit 3 - Interactive Animations and Games

Lesson 1: Programming for Entertainment
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Review the research resources linked in Code Studio
  • Print a copy of the activity guide for each group of three students
Lesson 2: Plotting Shapes
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 3: Drawing in Game Lab
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Read the Forum
  • Prepare projector or other means of showing videos if you wish to watch as a class
Lesson 4: Shapes and Parameters
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Review the level sequence in Code Studio
Lesson 5: Variables
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Review the level progression in Code Studio
Lesson 6: Random Numbers
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

Review the level progression in Code Studio
Lesson 7: Sprites
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • (Optional) Print a copy of the activity guide for each student
Lesson 8: Sprite Properties
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 9: Text
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 10: Mini-Project - Captioned Scenes
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 11: The Draw Loop
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Print and assemble the manipulatives
  • Prepare the video
Lesson 12: Sprite Movement
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 13: Mini-Project - Animation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 14: Conditionals
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 15: Keyboard Input
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 16: Mouse Input
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 17: Project - Interactive Card
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Read the Forum
  • Print out a copy of the project guide for each student
Lesson 18: Velocity
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 19: Collision Detection
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the activity guide such that each pair of students has a part A and a part B
Lesson 20: Mini-Project - Side Scroller
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 21: Complex Sprite Movement
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 22: Collisions
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 23: Mini-Project - Flyer Game
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 24: Functions
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
Lesson 25: The Game Design Process
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the the project guide if you will be giving students physical copies. Please note that this project guide is intentionally filled out. (See notes in Lesson Plan.)
Lesson 26: Using the Game Design Process
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the project guide for each student or pair of students
Lesson 27: Project - Design a Game
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the project guide, one for each student / pair of students
  • Print copies of the rubric, one for each student / pair of students
  • Print copies of the peer review guide, one for each student / pair of students
  • Review sample games in Code Studio

Unit 4 - The Design Process

Lesson 1: Analysis of Design
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the activity guide for each student (or prepare to distribute the document digitally).
Lesson 2: Understanding Your User
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print out enough user profiles for all students, ensuring as much variety as possible
  • Print an activity guide for each user
  • Prepare prompt questions for warm up exercise
  • Label four corners of the room as A, B, C, and D
  • Arrange room in table groups of 4, and place a number on each table group (1, 2, 3,...)
Lesson 3: User-Centered Design Micro Activity
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Ensure you have plenty of sticky notes, pens and large poster paper for students to work on
  • Set up groups with preferably 3 students each
Lesson 4: User Interfaces
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the User Interface Screens activity guide for each pair of students
  • Print one copy of the User Experience (computer) activity guide for each pair of students
  • Print one copy of the User Experience (user) activity guide for each pair of students
  • Cut out the UI Screens or provide scissors for students to do so themselves
Lesson 5: Feedback and Testing
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print one copy of activity guide for each group of 2 or 3
  • Print one copy of Improve a Screen for each student
  • Colored pencils or markers for the paper prototypes
Lesson 6: Identifying User Needs
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Print one copy of User Interview activity guide for each student
  • Print one copy of project guide for each student
  • Gather brainstorming materials (pens, sticky notes, etc)
Lesson 7: Project - Paper Prototype
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the project guide for each student if you have not already
  • Print one copy of the rubric for each student
  • 6 notecards for each student
  • Drawing supplies (colored pencils, markers, rulers, etc.)
  • Poster paper for each student
Lesson 8: Designing Apps for Good
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Assign teams of 4-5, ideally based on similar interest in an app topic
  • Print one copy per team of th activity guide
  • Choose 1-3 of the apps from the example apps to share with the class
  • Arrange classroom seating for pre-selected teams of 4-5 students
  • Put out sticky notes for each team
Lesson 9: Market Research
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Arrange classroom seating for teams of 4-5 students
  • Print one copy per team of the activity guide
Lesson 10: Paper Prototypes
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Collect 3x5 index cards (or copies of the prototype template), sticky notes, colored pens and pencils, scissors for each team
  • Print a copy of the activity guide for each team
Lesson 11: Prototype Testing
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Either have other people lined up to test each team’s paper prototypes, or schedule enough time for teams to test each other's prototypes
  • Print a copy of the activity guide for each team
Lesson 12: Digital Design
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the Screen Ownership activity guide for each group
  • Print one copy of the Screen Design activity guide for each student
  • (Optional) Print one copy of the Model Screen Design activity guide for each group
Lesson 14: Testing the App
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the activity guide for each student
  • If possible, have outside users available to test the teams’ apps prior to this testing day
Lesson 15: Improving and Iterating
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the activity guide for each team
  • Set out sticky notes and poster paper for each team
Lesson 16: Project - App Presentation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Determine how much time each group has to present. Typically this is 8-10 minutes per team, but remember to leave time for transitioning between teams
  • Create a copy of the presentation template slide deck for each team
  • Print one copy of the rubric for each team.

Unit 5 - Data and Society

Lesson 1: Representation Matters
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the Meals Data resource so that each group can get one of the four pages
  • Print one copy of the activity guide for each group
Lesson 2: Patterns and Representation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print one copy of the activity guide for each group of 2-3
  • Print and cut up one copy of the manipulative resource for each group of 2-3
Lesson 3: ASCII and Binary Representation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the activity guide
Lesson 4: Representing Images
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers
  • Practice using the Pixelation Widget for ~10 mins to prepare to respond to questions
Lesson 5: Representing Numbers
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 6: Keeping Data Secret
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 7: Combining Representations
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 8: Create a Representation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 9: Problem Solving and Data
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 10: Problem Solving with Big Data
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the activity guide
  • Prepare projector if you will show videos to the whole class
Lesson 11: Structuring Data
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 12: Making Decisions with Data
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the activity guide
Lesson 13: Interpreting Data
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 14: Automating Data Decisions
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
Lesson 15: Project - Make a Recommendation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print copies of the project guide
  • Print copies of the rubric
  • Print copies of the peer review guide

Unit 6 - Physical Computing

Lesson 1: Innovations in Computing
Resources Preparation

For the Students
Lesson 4: Input Unplugged
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Prepare to display example programs for the whole class.
  • A half deck of cards for each group of three students or deck-of-cards.js.org.
  • Print one copy of the activity guide for each group of four students.
Lesson 7: Analog Input
Resources Preparation

For the Students
Lesson 8: The Program Design Process
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Provide students with copies of the project guide
Lesson 9: Project - Make a Game
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Print a copy of the project guide for each group of students
  • Print a copy of the rubric for each student
Lesson 15: Circuits and Physical Prototypes
Resources Preparation

For the Students
  • Gather prototyping materials, such as:
    • Structural material (cardboard, construction paper, etc)
    • Connective material (tape, glue, hot glue, etc)
    • Construction tools (scissors, staplers, etc)
    • Other materials (cups, binder clips, paper plates, etc)
  • Prepare circuit wiring materials, such as:
    • Alligator clip wires (included in Circuit Playground classroom kit)
    • LEDs (included in Circuit Playground classroom kit)
    • Other conductive material (wire, paper clips, foil, etc)
    • (optional) Buttons or switches
  • Print a copy of the project guide for each group of 2-3 students
  • Prepare a model button to show the class
Lesson 16: Project - Prototype an Innovation
Resources Preparation

For the Teachers

For the Students
  • Collect materials for physical prototyping, eg.
    • Cardboard
    • Scissors
    • Tape
    • Glue
    • Foil
  • Print a copy of the project guide for each pair of students
  • Print a copy of the peer review sheet for each student
  • Print a copy of the rubric for each student