Computer Science

Grade 6 Computer Science Course Description

This course is an introduction to coding and computer science by way of making and designing, using the revolutionary new micro:bit microcontroller board, and Microsoft’s easy and powerful MakeCode block-based coding environment. It is a project-based curriculum with a maker philosophy at its core; the idea is that by making physical objects, students create a context for learning the coding and computer science concepts. When students complete this course they will have a good understanding of computer science concepts that can serve as the foundation for future study. They will develop powerful design skills that they can use in future projects of all types, whether they are designing 3D printed prototypes or creating apps that serve a real-world purpose.

  • Micro:bit block coding environment

    • Setup

    • Block coding elements

    • Creating and downloading programs

  • Algorithms

  • Pseudocode

  • Variables

  • Conditionals

  • Loops

Grade 7 Computer Science Course Description

Creative computing supports the development of personal connections to computing, by drawing upon creativity, imagination, and interests. Students will emphasize their knowledge, practices, and fundamental literacies to create dynamic and interactive computational media. Students will learn how creative computing artifacts prepare them for more than careers as computer scientists or programmers. This curriculum is designed to support familiarity and increase fluency with computational creativity and thinking. Students will also be introduced to web design using a web lab environment in Code.org. Students will focus on HTML structure and text coding in creating HTML pages and implement all web design aspects to create functional web pages.

  • Key computational thinking concepts

    • Sequence

    • Loops

    • Parallelism

    • Events

    • Conditionals

    • Operators

    • Data

  • Key computational thinking practices

    • Experimenting and iterating

    • Testing and debugging

    • Reusing and remixing

    • Abstracting and modularizing

  • Web Design

    • Text Coding Elements

    • HTML Structure

    • Creating functional web pages

Grade 8 Computer Science Course Description

This course curriculum focuses on Mechatronics which is the combination of machines and electronics. Students will be introduced to the engineering and designing of VEX IQ Robotics Machines along with the electronic components used to function and control the robots. Students will be learning how to apply block-based and text-based python coding to the VexIQ robots that they will be building from scratch.

  • Understanding of VEX IQ Robots Hardware

  • Building of VEX IQ Robots

  • Configuring Controllers to Robots

  • Robots Sensors

  • Robot Mesh Studio Environment

    • Block Coding

    • Text Coding

  • Configuring programs to Robot

  • VEX Robot Challenges