Course F
The last course in CS Fundamentals is tailored to the needs of students in the fifth grade. In these lessons, students will create programs with different kinds of loops, events, functions, and conditionals. They will also investigate different problem-solving techniques and discuss societal impacts of computing and the internet. By the end of the curriculum, students create interactive stories and games that they can share with their friends and family.
Journaling
The lessons in this course include journaling prompts. Journals are also useful as scratch paper for building, debugging, and strategizing. Journals can become a fantastic resource for referencing previous answers when struggling with more complex problems.
Think Spot Journal Student Handout
Debugging
From beginners to professionals, debugging is an essential yet often underrated practice. It is likely that your students will find most of their "coding" time is actually spent fixing bugs! To encourage students to take ownership of this practice, we provide this handy reference they can use while coding. Please consult the "Debugging" section of our CS Fundamentals Curriculum Guide for more information on this, as well as other debugging facilitation strategies for your classroom.
Debugging Guide Student Handout
Ramp Up
Lesson 1: Functions in Minecraft
Skill Building | Ramp Up
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Bridging Activity - Functions (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Can you figure out how to use functions for the most efficient code?
Lesson 2: Swimming Fish with Sprite Lab
Skill Building | Ramp Up
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Main Activity (20 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Learn how to create and edit sprites.
Lesson 3: Alien Dance Party with Sprite Lab
Skill Building | Ramp Up
- Warm Up (5 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (10 min)
Create an interactive project that can be shared with classmates.
Lesson 4: Drawing with Loops
Skill Building | Ramp Up
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
In this lesson, loops make it easy to make even cooler images with Artist!
Lesson 5: Nested Loops in Maze
Skill Building | Ramp Up
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Loops inside loops inside loops. What does this mean? This lesson will teach you what happens when you place a loop inside another loop.
Variables
Lesson 6: Envelope Variables
Unplugged | Variables
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Main Activity (20 min)
- Wrap Up (10 min)
- Assessment (10 min)
- Extended Learning
Envelopes and variables have something in common: both can hold valuable things. Here you will learn what variables are and the awesome things they can do.
Teacher Links: Unplugged Video | Worksheet Answer Key | Assessment Answer Key Student Links: Worksheet | Assessment
Lesson 7: Variables with Artist
Skill Building | Variables
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Bridging Activity - Variables (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Don't forget to bring creativity to class! In these puzzles you will be making fantastic drawings using variables.
Student Links: Student Video | Manipulatives
Lesson 8: Changing Variables with Bee
Skill Building | Variables
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
This bee loves variables!
Lesson 9: Changing Variables with Artist
Skill Building | Variables
- Warm Up (5 min)
- Main Activity (20 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
In this lesson, you'll make drawings using variables that change as the program runs.
Student Links: Student Video | Manipulatives
Data
Lesson 10: Simulating Experiments
Unplugged | Data
- Warm Up (5 min)
- Activity (35 min)
- Wrap Up (5 min)
Run simulations on the computer and experiment by changing variables.
Student Links: Worksheet
For Loops
Lesson 11: For Loop Fun
Unplugged | For Loops
- Warm Up (20 min)
- Main Activity (20 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
- Assessment (5 min)
- Extended Learning
You're going to have loads of fun learning about for loops!
Teacher Links: Unplugged Video | Teacher Key | Lesson in Action Video | Worksheet Answer Key Student Links: Worksheet | Assessment
Lesson 12: For Loops with Bee
Skill Building | For Loops
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Bridging Activity - For Loops (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Buzz buzz. In these puzzles you will be guiding a bee to nectar and honey using for loops!
Student Links: Manipulatives
Lesson 13: For Loops with Artist
Skill Building | For Loops
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Get ready to make your next masterpiece. Here you will be using for loops to make some jaw-dropping pictures.
Internet
Lesson 14: The Internet
Unplugged | Internet
- Warm Up (20 min)
- Main Activity (20 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
- Assessment (5 min)
Ever wondered how information travels across the internet? It's not magic! This lesson will teach you the basics of how the internet works.
Teacher Links: Unplugged Video | Manipulatives | Assessment | Assessment Answer Key
Sprites
Lesson 15: Behaviors in Sprite Lab
Skill Building | Behaviors
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Learn to program your own sprite behaviors!
Lesson 16: Virtual Pet with Sprite Lab
Application | Sprites
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
In this lesson, students will create an interactive Virtual Pet that looks and behaves how they wish. Students will use Sprite Lab's "Costumes" tool to customize their pet's appearance. They will then use events, behaviors, and other concepts they have learned to give their pet a life of its own!
Digital Citizenship
End of Course Project
Lesson 20: End of Course Project
End of Course Project
- Day 1 - Explore Project Ideas (45 min)
- Day 2 - The Design Process (45 min)
- Day 3 - Build Your Project (45 min)
- Day 4 (Recommended for 5th Grade) - Revise Your Project (45 min)
- Day 5 & 6 - Present Your Project (45 min each)
- Extension Activity
Projects this big take time and plenty of planning. Find your inspiration, develop a plan, and unleash your creativity!