Warm Up (10 min)

Behaving in the Computer Lab

Goal: This discussion will teach students what to expect and how to behave when they enter the computer lab.

Discuss

Have a good discussion around the computer lab expectations to make sure that students understand the rules. Some topics of discussion might include:

• Is running in the computer lab okay?
• How loudly should we talk when we are in the computer lab?
• What should you do if you get stuck on a puzzle?
• If you get frustrated, will it help to hit the computer?
• When we're about to go to the computer lab, how should we get ready?

Vocabulary

• Click: Pressing the mouse button
• Double-Click: Pressing the mouse button twice very quickly.
• Drag: Click your mouse button and hold as you move the mouse pointer to another location
• Drop: Releasing your mouse button to "let go" of the item that you are dragging.

Bridging Activity - Drag and Drop (10 - 15 min)

Choose one of the following to do with your class:

Dragging and Dropping Algorithms

Print out a copy of Real-Life Algorithms: Plant a Seed - Worksheet. Cut out each of the squares representing tasks. On a projector or in front of the class practice "dragging and dropping" by pressing your finger on one of the paper squares and moving it across a table. Explain that you can "click" on this square by tapping your finger to the square, or you can "drag" the square by pressing your finger on the square and moving it. To "drop" the square, release your finger from the square.

After showing this to the class, ask for volunteers to put the algorithm in correct order by "dragging and dropping" the squares.

Previewing Online Puzzles as a Class

Project a puzzle from the online stage. Show the class how to click on the picture and place it in the correct spot by dragging and dropping. Purposely make mistakes such as clicking the background or dropping the image before it's at the right spot. Ask for help from volunteers in the class when you run into these problems.

Main Activity (20 - 30 min)

CSF Pre-Express Course

Goal: This will teach students how to use Code.org to complete online puzzles.

This stage was designed to give students the opportunity to practice hand-eye coordination, clicking, and drag & drop skills. Students will also play with sequence.

The vocabulary introduced in this lesson becomes relevant during this activity. Take some time to explicitly teach how to click, double-click, drag, and drop. It might work better for you to cover these words in the classroom environment where you can lead by example -- or it might make more sense to teach the words individually as students work on their puzzles in the lab. You will need to decide what you believe is best for your class.

Place kids in pairs and have them watch the Pair Programming - Student Video video at their stations. This should help students start off in the right direction.

Teachers play a vital role in computer science education and supporting a collaborative and vibrant classroom environment. During online activities, the role of the teacher is primarily one of encouragement and support. Online lessons are meant to be student-centered, so teachers should avoid stepping in when students get stuck. Some ideas on how to do this are:

• Utilize pair programming whenever possible during the activity.
• Encourage students with questions/challenges to start by asking their partner.
• Unanswered questions can be escalated to a nearby group, who might already know the solution.
• Remind students to use the debugging process before you approach.
• Have students describe the problem that they’re seeing. What is it supposed to do? What does it do? What does that tell you?
• Remind frustrated students that frustration is a step on the path to learning, and that persistence will pay off.
• If a student is still stuck after all of this, ask leading questions to get the student to spot an error on their own.

Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)

Journaling

Goal: Help students reflect on the things they learned in this lesson

Give the students a journal prompt to help them process some of the things that they encountered during the day.

Journal Prompts:

• Can you draw a sequence for getting ready to go to the computer lab?
• Draw a computer lab "Do" and a "Don't"
• Use your journal to let me know how you felt about today's lesson plan

Extension Activities

If students complete the puzzles from this stage early, have them spend some time trying to come up with their own puzzles in their Think Spot Journal - Reflection Journal.