2nd Grade

Overview for Teachers:

This year the theme of the Hour of Code is using technology for good. The 2nd Grade will use the Kodable app. They have used it in K and first grade so the first 10 min or so they will just review that one and for the rest of the time they can use the Kodable Beach Cleanup. If they get bored they can also use the Bee Bot app or the Fix the Factory app but I would let them at least try the beach cleanup. The videos are really good and talk about ocean pollution.

• First : Students should work through the Kodable puzzles at their own pace. Have them click on the purple Play Without Saving (same for second activity.)
• Second : Students should be directed to the Kodable Beach Cleanup activity.

Introduction:

Begin with a group discussion of the computers that are around us. Some look like laptops, others might be cell phones, projectors, or thermostats.

Discuss some “instructions” we give to these computers and what they do. For example, we can tell calculators to add or our cellphones to make phone calls.

In computer science, we use the word algorithm to describe the instructions we give computers to solve problems. The specific order of those instructions is called a sequence.

Ask students to think about the algorithm to get ready for school in the morning. “What if you put your shoes on before your socks? Your socks will be on top of your shoes, which is just silly!“. When we write algorithms, the order of instructions is really important.

Debrief

Questions for students:

• What was your favorite part of this activity?
• What was one thing that challenged you during this activity?
• How were you able to use programming to solve the puzzles?
• How can be programming be used to create games?
• How else do you think programming is used aside from video games?