Objective:

Students will create physical models and timelines that represent the development of their local community, including the economies established by settlers, the role of entrepreneurship, and how computing technologies have influenced societal changes. Through computational thinking, students will sequence historical events and analyze how cultural practices and technologies have shaped the community.

Materials Needed:

• Construction paper, markers, and art supplies

• Primary sources such as maps, photographs, and oral histories

• Research materials on local settlers, historical economies, modern entrepreneurship, and technological advancements (e.g., GPS, robotics, internet)

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by discussing the history of the local community, focusing on the explorers, settlers, and entrepreneurs who shaped its economy. 

  • Introduce the concept of computing technologies, such as GPS and the internet, that have transformed modern-day practices and communication. 

  • Discuss how new computing technologies have influenced cultural and societal changes, drawing connections between historical developments and modern innovations.

• Group Activity:

  • In small groups, students will create timelines or dioramas that show key events in their community’s history, emphasizing how settlers contributed to the economy and how computing technologies, such as mobile devices and GPS, have continued to influence entrepreneurship and communication. 

  • Students will explore the ways in which technology has evolved to meet societal needs and how it has transformed cultural practices.

• Connecting to Computational Thinking:

  • Emphasize how students will need to use computational thinking to break down the historical events into manageable steps, much like decomposing problems in coding. 

  • They will organize these events in a logical sequence, demonstrating how both entrepreneurship and technological advancements have changed the landscape of the community over time.

• Testing and Refining:

  • Students will review their timelines or dioramas, ensuring the events are accurately sequenced and reflect the role of both historical and modern computing technologies. 

  • They will test their understanding by explaining how the evolution of technology, such as the rise of social media and mobile devices, has influenced local cultural practices.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their timeline or diorama, explaining how settlers contributed to the community’s development and how computing technologies have shaped the economy and communication over time. 

  • Lead a discussion on how technologies like GPS and social media have transformed how people interact and engage with their community, as well as how societal needs have driven technological innovation.

Equity and Access:

Offer a variety of materials for creating models to accommodate different learning styles. Provide additional guidance for students who may need help sequencing events or understanding the role of modern computing technologies.

Real-World Application:

This lesson links history and modern entrepreneurship to technological innovation, showing how settlers’ economic decisions still influence the community today. Students explore how modern technologies such as GPS, robotics, and social media have influenced societal practices and communication.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students break down historical and technological events and organize them into sequences, similar to how computational processes are developed.

• Communicating About Computing: Students explain how both historical events and modern computing technologies have transformed local economic and social practices, reflecting on how societal needs drive technological advancement.

Standard(s):

• CA HSS 3.3.2

• CA CS 3-5.IC.20

Objective:

Students will research the explorers, settlers, and cultural groups who have influenced their local community over time, and create digital presentations using a coding platform to represent historical events. Through computational thinking and coding, students will model how each period of settlement left its mark on the land and how computing technologies have impacted cultural practices.

Materials Needed:

• Tablets or computers

• Access to historical documents, photos, and online resources about local history

• Research materials on explorers, settlers, and modern technologies like GPS, the internet, and social media

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by discussing how explorers and settlers contributed to the history of the students’ community. 

  • Highlight key historical figures and events, as well as cultural and technological shifts that have occurred over time. 

  • Introduce a coding platform as a tool to model how these periods of settlement influenced the landscape and how modern technologies play a role in continuing this transformation.

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into pairs and assign each group a different period of settlement (e.g., Native American, European explorers, modern-day residents). 

  • Using a coding platform., they will create scenes representing how the land was used or transformed during each period. 

  • Encourage students to integrate elements of modern technology, such as GPS and social media, and demonstrate how these innovations influence current interactions and cultural exchanges.

• Creating and Coding:

  • Students will animate their historical scenes utilizing coding blocks. 

  • For example, they might show early settlers navigating new territories, and then transition to modern citizens using GPS to locate historical sites. 

  • This illustrates both historical and modern tools for exploring and interacting with the environment.

• Testing and Refining:

  • Once students have completed their scenes, they will test their code to ensure it correctly represents historical and modern-day interactions with the land. 

  • Allow time for revisions and testing to ensure clarity and accuracy.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their digital scenes to another group, explaining how their assigned historical period affected the land and how modern computing technologies have influenced how people interact with their community today. 

  • Discuss how technology has transformed cultural practices and communication.

Equity and Access:

Provide pre-made templates for students who may need additional support. Ensure all students have access to technology and research materials, encouraging collaboration across varying skill levels.

Real-World Application:

Students learn how technology has evolved over time and how modern computing devices like GPS and social media shape current cultural and societal practices. This shows how innovations continue to impact the way communities function and communicate.

CS Practice(s):

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students create digital representations of historical events and modern technology using coding platforms

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students explore how technological advancements help solve societal challenges and connect people globally.

Standard(s):

• CA HSS 3.3.1

• CA CS 3-5.IC.20