Unit5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Lesson 12: Traversals Make

App Lab

Overview

Using Programming Patterns and a step-by-step approach students make their own version of a Random Forecaster app. At the beginning of the lesson students are able to explore a working version of the app. They are then given the design elements of the app but begin with a blank screen. Students use an Activity Guide to go through the high level steps they should use to develop their app but leaves it to them to decide how to write the code. At the end students submit their apps which can be assessed using a provided rubric.

Purpose

This lesson is an opportunity for students to take on the "blank screen" and build the code that runs an app entirely from scratch. Guidance provided throughout the lesson helps students break down the large task of "building an app" into more incremental steps that they can use on future projects, including this unit's final project and the Create PT.

Agenda

Lesson Modifications

Warm Up (2 mins)

Activity (40 mins)

Wrap Up (5 mins)

View on Code Studio

Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Recognize the need for programming patterns with traversals as part of developing a functioning app
  • Implement programming patterns with traversals to develop a functioning app
  • Write comments to clearly explain both the purpose and function of different segments of code within an app
  • Use debugging skills as part of developing an app

Preparation

  • If time allows, try to build all or part of the Random Forecaster app yourself to understand the challenges involved
  • Review the debugging practices you intend to reinforce and resources you'll direct students towards as they get stuck

Links

Heads Up! Please make a copy of any documents you plan to share with students.

For the Teachers

For the Students

Support

Report a Bug

Forum

Teaching Guide

Lesson Modifications

Attention, teachers! If you are teaching virtually or in a socially-distanced classroom, please read the full lesson plan below, then click here to access the modifications.

Warm Up (2 mins)

Teaching Tip

Short Intro: The Warm Up today is short and light. Students should spend the maximum amount of time working on their projects.

Intro the Project

Remarks

For the past few days, we've learned a lot about using traversals to make apps that manipulate large amounts of information. In today's Make Project you'll be practicing processing lists and using programming patterns with traversals to create a functioning Random Forecaster app.

Activity (40 mins)

Build the Random Forecaster App

Group: Make a determination as to whether this project will be completed in pairs or individually. You may even choose to let students decide.

Do This: Have students explore the working Random Forecaster app in Level 2.

Discussion Goal

  • What information is needed to create this app?
    • The weather forecast for tomorrow for random cities, including the weather condition, high and low temperatures, and a weather icon.
  • What list filtering patterns might be used?
    • The List Filter Pattern: Filtering Multiple Lists is used.

Prompt: If students are not working in pairs they should still discuss the prompts with a neighbor.

  • What information is needed to create this app?
  • What list filtering patterns might be used?

Teaching Tip

Supporting Students: While students are working on their apps, circulate the room and check in with students who need a little help. Encourage students to collaborate and discuss bugs with each other.

Debugging: Review with students steps they can use to debug if they get stuck:

  • Run the code on turtle mode
  • Add the variables to the watcher
  • Explain the code to a friend

Remarks

Now let's build the this app. The screen has been set up for you - it's your job to add the code!

Do This: Direct students to level three where they complete the Random Forecaster app. An optional Activity Guide is provided if students would like guidance in creating the app. The most relevant programming pattern is displayed on a slide. Review this pattern quickly with students, if needed.

Submit: Encourage students to check the rubric on the last page of the Activity Guide before submitting.

Wrap Up (5 mins)

Teaching Tip

Maximize Work Time: The wrap up is short to allow the maximum amount of time for students to complete the activity.

Remarks

Awesome work today! Make sure to submit your project when you're done with it!

Assessment: Make Project

Use the rubric provided with the project to assess student projects.

Standards Alignment

View full course alignment

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017)

AP - Algorithms & Programming
  • 3A-AP-14 - Use lists to simplify solutions, generalizing computational problems instead of repeated use of simple variables.
  • 3B-AP-10 - Use and adapt classic algorithms to solve computational problems.