Science Simulations & Exploration
The nature of coding cultivates 21st century competencies that are crucial in science such as critical thinking and collaboration. Coding offers many affordances, however within Science, it can offer opportunities for students to visualize concepts and interactions that might otherwise seem abstract due to limitations to lab experiments, while they exercise their coding skills. Coding environments therefore naturally lend themselves to becoming engaging spaces for students within a science classroom.
Abiotic and Biotic Factors
In this beginner to intermediate level coding activity, students will use block coding features of motion, looks, events, and control to create an ecosystem of their choice and identify biotic and abiotic factors as well as their interactions. Here is a sample project.
Explore a sample lesson plan to introduce this activity in the intermediate science classroom.
Coding Concepts: Conditionals, Loops, Sequential
Calculating Work
Students will use the Scratch program and use features such as variables to create a simple calculator to solve for work given the distance and force parallel to movement. This activity has been adapted from Science North with the lesson plan found here. Here is a sample project.
Coding Concepts: Variables, Sequential
Food Chain
In this intermediate level activity, students will use their knowledge of block coding to design an ecosystem to demonstrate their knowledge of roles and interactions of producers, consumers, decomposers and order of energy transfer. Here is a sample project.
Explore a sample lesson for this activity.
Coding Concepts: Sequential
More Resources
For science inspiration: Science North Educator Resources
Fair Chance Learning - Sustainable Development Activities with Micro:Bits