Objective: 

Students will produce a short story, revise and edit it with a partner, and learn how to manage and organize information by storing, copying, and modifying their work. Through this activity, students will gain an understanding of how written work is a form of data and practice how to process and organize it manually.

Materials Needed:

• Paper and pencils

• Folder for organizing drafts and final versions

• Sticky notes for peer revisions

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by explaining that when we write a story, we create information that we can store, modify, or delete, just like how computers store data. 

  • Discuss how our stories are a form of data. Introduce the task of writing a short story with a beginning, middle, and end. 

  • Students will then revise their stories with a peer, much like how computers store different versions of files.

• Group Activity:

  • Students will write their story on paper and store it in a folder. Next, they will pass their story to a peer who will read and revise it using sticky notes. 

  • Afterward, students will incorporate the feedback into a final draft of the story, which they will also store in the folder. 

  • The initial draft (or unnecessary notes) can be “deleted” by discarding them into a recycling bin.

• Organization and Reflection:

  • Discuss how the process of writing, revising, and storing the final copy is similar to how computers store and manage data. 

  • Students will reflect on the importance of organizing their work, just as we organize digital files.

Equity and Access:

Provide sentence starters for students who need extra support with writing and encourage peer collaboration during the revision process.

Real-World Application:

Relate the lesson to how professionals manage drafts of work in offices, such as authors and designers, and how organizing and editing information is important for clear communication.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students will identify the problem of organizing and refining their stories, similar to how we manage data in computing.

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students will abstract their story by revising key ideas and simplifying their drafts.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy W.1.5

• CA CS K-2.DA.7

Objective:

Students will use a digital device to create a short story, store it locally or in the cloud, and collaborate with peers to revise and edit their work. They will learn to store, search, retrieve, copy, and delete data, applying computational thinking to data management.

Materials Needed:

• Tablets or computers with a word processing app (e.g., Google Docs or Seesaw)

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by discussing how computers store data like stories, pictures, or videos. 

  • Explain that today students will write a short story digitally, store it, and revise it with the help of a classmate. 

  • The final version will be saved, while earlier drafts can be deleted.

• Group Activity:

  • Students will type their story using a word processing app, and then save it either locally on the device or in a shared folder (cloud-based). 

  • They will share their story with a partner by creating a digital copy, allowing the peer to provide feedback by leaving comments or making edits. 

  • Once the final version is complete, students will delete unnecessary drafts and save the final one.

• Organizing and Reflecting:

  • Students will reflect on how they saved, retrieved, and managed their stories digitally. 

  • Lead a discussion on how storing information on computing devices makes it easy to organize and share.

Equity and Access:

Provide pre-written digital templates for students who may need additional support with the story structure. Use peer collaboration to ensure all students can actively participate in revising their work.

Real-World Application:

Discuss how digital data management is used in many professions, from authors who write books to project managers who organize work files, highlighting the importance of being able to store, modify, and share information effectively.

CS Practice(s):

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students create a digital story and save it, applying data management strategies.

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students identify how to store and organize their story versions in a digital environment.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy W.1.5, W.1.6

• CA CS K-2.DA.7