Chapter 2 - How to Talk to Your Computer

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Effect

Key Vocabulary:

Computational thinking: A way of thinking that helps us work logically through big problems by breaking them down into smaller pieces, looking for patterns, and then using the information to come up with a step-by-step solution.

Read pages 29-33! Then, discuss the questions below.

What are things that a computer is very good at doing?
How is a computer different from a human brain?
What kind of instructions must you give to computers? What might be hard about providing that type of instructions? What might be fun?

Unplugged Activity

Materials: Paper or index cards, pencils, and any materials you need to act out your task.

Prompt: As a Club, agree on an everyday task, like making a sandwich. Try to write instructions that a computer can follow. Then, swap your instructions with a partner, who will pretend to be a robot! See if they’re able to follow your instructions.

SCRATCH Website: https://scratch.mit.edu/

Make It Fly

Prompt: Scratch is just one programming language that you can use to give your computer specific instructions. Continue to familiarize yourself with the platform and how to be precise by completing the “Make It Fly” tutorial.

Variable = Remember

New Vocabulary:

Conditional: An element of code that only happens if something else is true. Conditionals are also called “if” statements, because “if” something happens, then something else will occur.

Logic: An organized way of thinking that makes sense to a computer.

Loop: A way of writing a piece of code that repeats multiple times. If I want to draw a square, I can write one loop that says “go straight, and then turn right” and have it repeat 4 times.

Variable: A container that a program uses to store and remember information. Variables can hold numbers, words, and even whether something is true or false.

Read pages 34-38! Then, discuss the questions below.

Give an example of a container you use to store things. What is its name? How is it similar to a variable?
Think of an activity you do that requires you to repeat something. What does that look like as a loop?
What decisions do you make during the day? Can you write them as conditionals?
What are some ways that you already use the concepts from coding discussed in this chapter?

Unplugged Activity

Materials: One container per student (like a paper or plastic cup), coloring tools, paper, (optional) magazines for pictures

Prompt: In this chapter, you learned that variable can store all types of information. What would a variable that represented you hold?

Start by creating your own personal variable by decorating the outside of a box, cup, or other container with your name and other images that represent you.
Then, put words, drawings or objects inside of your variable that represent who you are and what matters to you.
Finally, think about things that you’d like to add to your personal variable over time - because just like a variable, you can change and grow!
Finish this activity by sharing the contents of your variable and what you'd like to add one day in small groups.

Make Your Sprite Talk Tutorial

Prompt: Create an animation that can be used to teach a younger relative or friend about the Core4! Include pictures and real-life examples to help make your explanation clear and fun. Use the Make Your Sprite Talk tutorial to help get started.

Read pages 34-39

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