CourseA

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.

Teacher Links: Video | Lesson Recommendations Student Links: Controller Image | Manipulatives