Objective: 

Students will create an interactive paper-based map of major pre-Columbian settlements, using index cards to simulate events, conditionals, and loops.

Materials Needed: 

• Large paper map of North America

• index cards

• Markers

• sticky notes.

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Students learn about the major pre-Columbian settlements of North America, including the cliff dwellers of the Southwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi. 

  • The teacher explains that students will simulate an interactive map using paper and index cards to model programming concepts like events, conditionals, and loops.

• Activity: 

  • In small groups, students create an index card system for each region. 

  • When a card (event) is picked up, it triggers a question about the economic system of that settlement. 

  • The student answers, and conditionals on the back of the card indicate if the answer is correct or not. If incorrect, a loop instructs them to try again until they get it right. 

  • Sticky notes are used to simulate a "congratulations" message for correct answers, which students repeat several times using loops.

• Presentation: 

  • Students rotate through the maps and answer questions, reflecting on how conditionals and loops help control the flow of their interactive simulation.

Equity and Access: 

Provide pre-written index cards for students needing additional support, and pair mixed-ability students to encourage collaboration.

Real-World Connection: 

Discuss how events and conditionals are used in interactive websites or applications like Google Maps to respond to user input.

CS Practice(s): 

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students create step-by-step interactions with maps, modeling programming concepts. 

• Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students refine the rules of their card system for better flow.

Standard(s): 

• CA HSS 5.1.3

• CA CS 3-5.AP.12

Objective: 

Students will use Scratch or another coding platform to program an interactive map that quizzes users on major pre-Columbian settlements, incorporating events, loops, and conditionals.

Materials Needed: 

• Computers or tablets

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Students learn about major pre-Columbian settlements, focusing on the cultural and economic systems of the cliff dwellers, pueblo people, and other groups. 

  • The teacher explains that students will create an interactive map in a coding platform where clicking on a region triggers questions about the settlement.

• Activity: 

  • Students program a map in a coding platform, using "when clicked" events to trigger questions about each region. 

  • They create conditionals to check if the user’s answer is correct and use loops to repeat the question until the correct answer is given. 

  • A loop is also used to control how long a "congratulations" message plays after a correct answer. 

  • Students test and refine their code, making sure the events, conditionals, and loops function correctly to guide the user through the quiz.

• Presentation: 

  • Each group presents their interactive maps to peers, explaining how they used events, conditionals, and loops to control the quiz flow.

Equity and Access: 

Provide a coding template with basic code for students who need extra support, and group students with varying levels of coding experience for collaboration.

Real-World Connection: 

Connect the project to interactive educational tools and quizzes used in apps, such as Duolingo or Kahoot, where events and loops drive user interaction.

CS Practice(s): 

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students use coding to build an interactive quiz map. 

• Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students troubleshoot their programs to improve user experience.

Standard(s): 

• CA HSS 5.1.3

• CA CS 3-5.AP.12