Unit 1 - Problem Solving and Computing

Question of the Day: What can help us to work together and solve problems as a team?

The class works in groups to design aluminum foil boats that will support as many pennies as possible. At the end of the lesson, groups reflect on their experiences with the activity and make connections to the types of problem solving they will be doing for the rest of the course.

Question of the Day: What are some common steps we can use to solve many different types of problems?

This lesson introduces the formal problem solving process that the class will use over the course of the year: Define - Prepare - Try - Reflect. The class relates these steps to the problem from the previous lesson, then to a problem they are good at solving, then to a problem they want to improve at solving. At the end of the lesson, the class collects a list of generally useful strategies for each step of the process to put on posters that will be used throughout the unit and year.

Question of the Day: How can we apply the problem solving process to many different kinds of problems?

In this lesson, the class applies the problem solving process to three different problems: a word search, a seating arrangement for a birthday party, and planning a trip. The problems grow increasingly complex and poorly defined to highlight how the problem solving process is particularly helpful when tackling these types of problems.

Question of the Day: What is a computer?

In this lesson, the class develops a preliminary definition of a computer. After brainstorming the possible definitions for a computer, the class works in groups to sort pictures into “is a computer” or “is not a computer” categories on poster paper, and explain their motivations for choosing some of the most difficult categorizations. The teacher then introduces a definition of the computer and allows groups to revise their posters according to the new definition.

Question of the Day: What are the different ways computers can process information?

This lesson introduces four types of processing that the class will use throughout the course. Through a series of apps, the class explores how processing is used to turn input into output. In the end, the class brainstorms more types of app processing that would be useful.

Question of the Day: Why is storage an important part of the computing process?

This lesson covers the last part of the chapter's model of computing: storage. The class interacts with several different apps, determining which information should be stored for later and why. The input-output-storage-processing model of computing is then presented in full, and the class reflects on how various apps use each of the components, and how the model impacts whether or not something should be considered a computer.

Question of the Day: What can help us to work together and solve problems as a team?

The class works in groups to design spaghetti bridges that will support as many books as possible. At the end of the lesson, groups reflect on their experiences with the activity and make connections to the types of problem solving they will be doing for the rest of the course.

Question of the Day: What can help us to work together and solve problems as a team?

The class works in groups to design paper towers that will be as tall as possible. At the end of the lesson groups reflect on their experiences with the activity and make connections to the types of problem solving they will be doing for the rest of the course.

Question of the Day: How can we apply the problem solving process to many different kinds of problems?

In this lesson, the class applies the problem solving process to three different problems: a tangram puzzle, choosing a pet according to criteria, and planning a pet adoption event. The problems grow increasingly complex and poorly defined to highlight how the problem solving process is particularly helpful when tackling these types of problems.

Question of the Day: How can we apply the problem solving process to many different kinds of problems?

In this lesson, the class applies the problem solving process to three different problems: a maze, a logic puzzle, and planning field day activity. The problems grow increasingly complex and poorly defined to highlight how the problem solving process is particularly helpful when tackling these types of problems.