Course A
Course A offers computer science curriculum for beginning readers around the kindergarten age range. Students will learn to program using commands like loops and events. The lessons featured in this course also teach students to collaborate with others meaningfully, investigate different problem-solving techniques, persist in the face of difficult tasks, and learn about internet safety. By the end of this course, students create their very own custom game or story from Play Lab that they can share.
Modifications for Virtual and Socially-Distanced Classrooms
Are you teaching in a virtual setting or in a socially-distanced classroom?
Check out our modifications for Course A for suggestions and resources to modify the curriculum as needed for your current teaching situation.
Persistence
Computer science requires persistence. We've created two short picture books and an optional activity to model ways to approach struggle and problem solving in a way that young students can understand. Read these stories with your class any time you want to introduce or reinforce persistence. After reading, you can even complete Stevie's big "marble run" project with your class!
Picture Book: Unspotted Bugs Slides | Video
Picture Book: Stevie and the Big Project Slides | Video
Optional Activity: Marble Run Teacher Guide
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
Digital Citizenship
Lesson 1: Safety in My Online Neighborhood
Unplugged | Online Safety
- Watch: My Online Neighborhood (5 min)
- Read: Safety, It Rules! (5 min)
- Explore: Internet Field Trip (15 min)
- Pause & Think Moment (15 min)
- Extended Learning
Learn how to go places safely online.
Teacher Links: Slide Deck | Lesson Video Student Links: Poem Poster | Student Handout
Sequencing
Lesson 2: Learn to Drag and Drop
Skill Building | Sequencing
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Preview Online Puzzles (5 min)
- Main Activity (20 - 30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
- Extension Activities
Click and drag to finish the puzzles.
Student Links: Student Video
Lesson 3: Happy Maps
Unplugged | Sequencing
- Warm Up (5 min)
- Activity (40 min)
- Wrap Up (8 min)
- Extended Learning
Write instructions to get the Flurb to the fruit.
Teacher Links: Worksheet Answer Key Student Links: Unplugged Video | Worksheet | Manipulatives
Lesson 4: Sequencing with Scrat
Skill Building | Sequencing
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Bridging Activity - Drag and Drop (10 - 15 min)
- Main Activity (20 - 30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
- Extension Activities
Program Scrat to reach the acorn.
Student Links: Student Video | Manipulatives
Lesson 5: Programming with Scrat
Skill Building | Sequencing
- Warm Up: The Unplugged Foundation (3 min)
- Online Foundation: Preview Programming in Maze (3 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
- Extended Learning
Write programs to help Scrat reach the acorn.
Student Links: Student Video
Lesson 6: Programming with Rey and BB-8
Skill Building | Sequencing
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (15 min)
Help BB-8 collect the scrap metal.
Student Links: Student Video
Loops
Lesson 7: Happy Loops
Unplugged | Loops
- Warm-Up (5 min)
- Main Activity (20 min)
- Wrap Up (8 min)
- Extension Activities
Help the Flurb solve bigger problems using loops.
Student Links: Worksheet | Worksheet | Manipulatives | Manipulatives
Lesson 8: Loops with Scrat
Skill Building | Loops
- Warm Up - The Unplugged Foundation (10 min)
- Bridging Activity - Choose One
- Online Foundation: Preview Loops in Ice Age
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
- Extended Learning
Help Scrat cover more ground using loops.
Student Links: Emotion Images | Worksheet | Manipulatives | Manipulatives | Manipulatives
Lesson 9: Loops with Laurel
Skill Building | Loops
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
Help Laurel the adventurer collect the treasure underground.
Student Links: Manipulatives
Lesson 10: Ocean Scene with Loops
Skill Building | Loops
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
- Cross-Curricular Opportunity
Use loops and patterns to finish the images.
Teacher Links: Video
Events
Lesson 11: The Big Event Jr.
Unplugged | Events
- Warm Up (15 min)
- Main Activity (15 min)
- Wrap Up (10 min)
- Assessment (10 min)
- Extended Learning
Move and shout when your teachers presses buttons on a giant remote.
Teacher Links: Assessment Answer Key Student Links: Unplugged Video | Controller Image | Assessment
Lesson 12: On the Move with Events
- Warm Up (10 min)
- Bridging Activity - Events (10 min)
- Main Activity (30 min)
- Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
- Extended Learning
Create your own game or story.