Week at a Glance for Computer Specialty at JQES
PBSKIDS pollinator game: https://pbskids.org/naturecat/games/pollinator-pathway
2023 - 24 Computer Specialty Weekly Plan
Computer Specialty Teacher: Andrea Blake
Questions? Email ablake@bostonpublicschools.org
Generic Exit Ticket to show what you learned today
Week 38 5/20 - 5/25 International Bee Day is on May 20
The purpose of the international bee day is to acnowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem.
Watch: Why are bees important? and International Bee Day video.
K2 code.org (course A). PBSKids pollinator game: https://pbskids.org/naturecat/games/pollinator-pathway
1st grade: BeeBots and the BeeBot online emulator: What is the purpose of a emulator?
2nd & 3rd grade: Typing.com, Scratch coding.
Vocabulary: Animate.
Make a new project: follow the Animate a Character tutorial that comes with Scratch (in the Tutorials section): switch the costumes of the parrot sprite 10 times (using the Repeat coding block), to make it look like it's flying. Then draw your own sprite, let's say a bee, with two costumes, so you can make it look like flying.
Challenge: How to make a Designer Character Game on Scratch. Follow the video instructions by Zennia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3oCdNIeU_8
4th grade & 5th grade: How to make a scrolling game on Scratch. Follow the video instructions by Griffpatch:
Geometry Dash #1 How to make a scrolling game
Geometry Dash #2 Platform Collisions
Geometry Dash #3 Beautiful Practice Trails
Geometry Dash #4 Create Epic Explosions
Lego Robotics Club:
FLL Competition Mat, MISSION MODEL BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS: https://www.firstlegoleague.org/season?__hstc=212927755.3c5adac29f788dc9e7f76d2f80784be8.1714140183652.1714140183652.1714140183652.1&__hssc=212927755.2.1714140183652&__hsfp=1717932986 (use the red Explore section, not green or blue)
Build an advanced driving base. Building instructions are on spike.legoeducation.com click Build, then click Advanced Driving base. Note: there are two sets of instructions: one to build the 4 components of the car, and one to assemble the whole thing.
Remember: Next week is World Bee Day
Week 37 5/13 - 5/17 May is AAPI heritage month
Asian Americans: Madison Chock, Olympic Gold Medalist, Ice Dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C0wIQ94aPo
K2 code.org (course A). Asian Americans. Allen Say, Japanese American writer and illustrator. BrainPop Jr, and his book Grandfather's Journey readaloud
1st grade: KIBO Robots. Max Found Two Sticks read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXmdsRMwdRM Challenge: Can you reenact the story using Kibo?
2nd & 3rd grade: Typing.com, Scratch coding.
Vocabulary: Variable.
Finish your Pong game. Use the built in tutorial in Scratch to create a pong game. Create a variable to keep a score when hitting the ball with the paddle. The game ends when you miss the ball. Next: Make a new project, and use the Animate a Character tutorial.
4th grade & 5th grade: How to make a game on Scratch. Follow the video instructions by Griffpatch:
Geometry Dash #1 learning goals:
make a scrolling game
draw basic shapes in the paint editor
use the backpack to copy sounds and sprites (How to copy and paste from one Scratch project to another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k099sV9LdY)
use a variable for SCROLLSPEED
Lego Robotics Club:
FLL Competition Mat, MISSION MODEL BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS: https://www.firstlegoleague.org/season?__hstc=212927755.3c5adac29f788dc9e7f76d2f80784be8.1714140183652.1714140183652.1714140183652.1&__hssc=212927755.2.1714140183652&__hsfp=1717932986 (use the red Explore section, not green or blue)
Build an advanced driving base. Building instructions are on spike.legoeducation.com click Build, then click Advanced Driving base. Note: there are two sets of instructions: one to build the 4 components of the car, and one to assemble the whole thing.
Remember: Next week is World Bee Day
Week 36 5/6 - 5/10 May is AAPI heritage month
Asian Americans: Watch AAPI on BrainPop, featuring dr Zhong and his invention CRISPR.
K2 code.org KIBO Robots
1st grade: KIBO Robots. Lights, sounds and sensors.
2nd & 3rd grade: Typing.com, Scratch coding.
Vocabulary: Variable
Pong game. Use the built in tutorial in Scratch to create a pong game. Create a variable to keep a score when hitting the ball with the paddle. The game ends when you miss the ball.
4th grade & 5th grade: How to make a game on Scratch. Follow the video instructions by Griffpatch:
Geometry Dash #1 learning goals:
make a scrolling game
draw basic shapes in the paint editor
use the backpack to copy sounds and sprites (How to copy and paste from one Scratch project to another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k099sV9LdY)
use a variable for SCROLLSPEED
Lego Robotics Club:
FLL Competition Mat, MISSION MODEL BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS: https://www.firstlegoleague.org/season?__hstc=212927755.3c5adac29f788dc9e7f76d2f80784be8.1714140183652.1714140183652.1714140183652.1&__hssc=212927755.2.1714140183652&__hsfp=1717932986 (use the red Explore section, not green or blue)
Build an advanced driving base. Building instructions are on spike.legoeducation.com click Build, then click Advanced Driving base. Note: there are two sets of instructions: one to build the 4 components of the car, and one to assemble the whole thing.
Week 35 4/29 - 5/3 Scratch Week to celebrate the birthday of Scratch
Scratch Week: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1003825797
K2 code.org (course A).
1st grade: Typing: finish your "Earth Day Typing practice" google doc. KIBO Robots. Max Found Two Sticks read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXmdsRMwdRM Challenge: Can you reenact the story using Kibo?
2nd, 3rd & 4th grade: Typing.com, Scratch coding.
Vocabulary: Event: An action that causes something to happen.
Sample Project: Ofrenda https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/323737554/. What are the events in this program, and what happens when these events occur?
Remix the Ofrenda project and personalize it. Submit your remixed project.
Click on the Right sprite to show there are no scripts. Click on the Middle sprite and drag the when green flag clicked script from Middle to Right. Show the Right’s scripts again
5th grade: Lego Robotics
Week 34 4/22 - 4/26 Earth Day Earth day is an annual event on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection
K2, 1st grade: Earth Day, Reuse Recycle
PBS LEARNING MEDIA | Earth Day | PBS KIDS
Jack Johnson - The 3 R's (Lyrics)
PBSKids AJ's Recycle Game: https://pbskids.org/heroelementary/games/ajs-recycle-rescue
abcya recycle game https://www.abcya.com/games/recycling_game
1st and 2nd grade: Earth day typing practice
grades 2-4: Scratch coding. Broadcast and Receive.
1st project, Surprise: Submit your Scratch Program "Surprise" in the Exit Ticket . Requirements: Use the Broadcast and Receive blocks in your program to control the flow of events. Use at least three characters. Some hiding, then showing up when it's time for the surprise, then do some surprising things: spin, run around, sing a song, go to space, whatever you can think of. Have fun!
2nd project, Bonus Challenge: Hide and Seek. How to use multiple broadcasts to control the flow of events in a program.
Example: Hide and Seek - Remix this project and fix the bugs.
5th grade: Lego Robotics
FLL Competition Mat, MISSION MODEL BUILDING INSTRUCITONS: https://www.firstlegoleague.org/season?__hstc=212927755.3c5adac29f788dc9e7f76d2f80784be8.1714140183652.1714140183652.1714140183652.1&__hssc=212927755.2.1714140183652&__hsfp=1717932986 (use the red Explore section, not green or blue)
Build an advanced driving base. Building instructtons are on spike.legoeducation.com click Build, the first two items are there.
If you re not working on one of those two, please find an Asian American famous person and make a scratch project about him or her.
Week 33 April Break
Week 32 4/8 - 4/12 Solar Eclipse on Monday
K2 & 1st grade: The Great North American Solar Eclipse read aloud by our Assistant Principal Mr. Ng
grades 2-4: Scratch coding: See Scratch Coding Lesson 2 Slides
Submit your Scratch Program "Surprise" in the Exit Ticket . Requirements: Use the Broadcast and Receive blocks in your program to control the flow of events. Use at least three characters. Some hiding, then showing up when it's time for the surprise, then do some surprising things: spin, run around, sing a song, go to space, whatever you can think of. Have fun!
5th grade: Build a mobile solar eclipse observatory using Lego Spike Primes.
Week 31 - Women's History Month finish projects
4/1 - 4/5
K2 & 1st grade code.org
Watch the video: The Big Event
vocabulary: event, action, actor.
lego robotics: Try the two type of grabbers (soft claw and hard claw). Experiment: Which one is better in picking up an apple, a paper or an empty water bottle? When the touch sensor "button" is pushed, the motor turns and the grabber grabs then releases. What is the event, the action and the actor in this case?
grades 2-4: Scratch coding. Broadcast and Receive. Let's learn how to use "Broadcast and Receive" for a better way of passing the conversation from one person to the other(s) instead of calculating Wait times. Here is an example: Birthday Surprise.
5th grade: Build a mobile solar eclipse observatory using Legos.
Week 30 3/25 - 3/29 Wellness night and STEAM night on 3/27 Wednesday at school, 4:45 - 6:45 pm
grades 2-4: Create a Scratch Project for Women's Month: two characters have a conversation about a famous person.
Example: Mae Jemison: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/660958035 Opening line: One character says: What do you know about Mae Jemison? The second character responds with a fact, and then they keep talking about the famous person, having a conversation, revealing at least three facts.
Sign in on Scratch.mit.edu.
Think of a famous woman scientist (hint: you can find one on PebbleGo)
Start a new project on Scratch: Click Create (it's a link on the top left corner of the screen in the blue bar)
Select two characters from the Sprite library. These two people (or animals or aliens) will have a conversation about a famous woman of your choice. Use the following three blocks in your code: When the program starts, Say something for x seconds, Wait.
Some ideas: Mae Jemison, First African American Astronaut (video 2:83 and biography on womenhistory.com), The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague Read Aloud, or any woman you can find in the Biography section on Pebble Go.
5th grade: Build a mobile solar eclipse observatory using Legos.
Week 29
3/18 - 3/22,
K2 code.org (course A). abcya.com: Alphabet Zoo 2 (typing), Dress for the Weather (practice drag and drop)
1st grade: code.org (course B). abcya.com: Alphabet Zoo 2 (typing refresher)
Watch the video: The Big Event
vocabulary: event, action, actor.
grades 2-4: Scratch coding. Create a project titled "Joke" on Scratch. Two characters will act out telling a joke.
200 jokes for kids: https://parade.com/968634/parade/jokes-for-kids/
The purpose of the assignment today is to verify that you can:
log into the account that Ms. Blake created for you on Scratch.mit.edu (such as jqes216-21, where 216 is your homeroom number and 21 is your line order number, or the number that Ms Blake assigned to you if you don't have a line order number in your classroom).
use these three coding blocks: When the Flag is clicked, Say something for some seconds, Wait for 3 seconds. (Hint: these are the first blocks in the yellow section "Events", the purple section "Looks", and the orange section "Control")
Select two characters from the Scratch library, and make them have a conversation. (Such as telling a joke. they have to wait for each other and take turns talking).
share your project and submit it in the Exit Ticket
5th grade:
Lego Robots for STEAM night.
The Great North American Solar Eclipse - April 8th, 2024 - who can design the coolest solar eclipse glasses on Tinkercad? Ask Ms Blake for the paper cutout sample to measure and design the right size, send your designs to Ms. Boulogne, she will try to 3D print it..
How to log in on Tinkercad: go to clever, then search for Tinkercad, click the link. Once you are on the tinkercad website, click Sign in, click sign in with Google. If it says that you don't have an account, click join a Class and put in this class code: LYS-FAN-NVT
Wednesday After School Robotics Club: Slide Deck, Spike Prime Inventory, Teams and Tasks
To build and program a robot, go to spike.legoeducation.com
What's in the Box
Create 2 styles of grabbers and test which one is better for picking up light or heavy objects.
Week 28
3/11 - 3/15
K2 code.org (course A). abcya.com Typing: cup stack typing. Practice drag and drop using the track pad: Make a gingerbread house
1st grade: Typing.com. code.org (course B)
grades 2-4: Scratch coding. Create your first project, then Share it, then submit it in the Exit Ticket.
1. I created a scratch account for every student. I will tell you your username and password. Go to scratch.mit.edu, and
Sign in to this account, because it will allow you to save and share your work with me. Your projects will be graded.
2. Click "Create" next to the Scratch logo (top left corner).
3. Create a "Hello World" project. When you click the green flag, the cat says Hello World!
4. Submit your project in the Exit Ticket: click Share in your scratch project, then copy the link, then go to the Exit Ticket and paste the link in the "Link to your project" field. Submit the Exit Ticket, so Ms. Blake can review and grade your work.
5th grade: Jimu robots
Wednesday After School Robotics: FIRST Inspires 2023-24 Challenge: MASTERPIECE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI_vz9YUw1g
Form groups of 3 people, make nametags.
What's in the Box
Change the smiley face on the hub
Create a hopper (something without wheels that can move forward). Try different "arms" and enter your robot in a race. How can you modify your hopper to move farther faster?
Week 27
3/4 - 3/8
K2, 1st grade and 2nd grade: Teamwork with BeeBots. Small groups of students write code on paper and coordinate programming their beebots based on the written instructions.
3rd, 4th and 5th grade: Adobe Express.
Finish your Adobe about me, click Publish to the web, then submit the link in the Exit Ticket.
Extension: If you have extra time, find a famous woman scientist or computer scientist and write about her in the Exit Ticket. Mention her name, what she became famous for, what did she accomplish and how did she get there... we will use this information later in your Scratch projects.
Week 26 Welcome new classes for computer specialty
2/26 - 3/1
K2, 1st and 2nd grade:
Please make a nametag if you don't have one on your desk already. Take a class photo with nametags
What to expect in computer specialty. How to take care of your Chromebooks.
Let's make sure every student has their login QR code printed or login info so we can start working on the Chromebooks next week.
3rd, 4th and 5th grade: Adobe Express. Lesson 1: Create an About Me animation
Do Now: Click on this About Me Step by Step Instruction. The instruction PDF will prompt you to click on the picture in step 1 to get started. Then click Login with Google: it logs you in with your school account. Read the prompts, record your response, then click Open in Adobe, so you can add further textboxes and elements (graphics).
---Winter Break---
Week 24 - Kindness Week
2/12 - 2/16
K2 & 1st grade: BeeBots, abcya.com Valentine Day counting
2nd grade: Typing.com, BrainPOP Empathy Interland, green level: Spreading Kindness on the internet
5th grade: Robotics. Robotics Beginner Slides
BraiPOP AI or Cell Phones
Interland, green level: Spreading Kindness on the internet
Week 23
2/5 - 2/9
FREE Fun for You and your Friends:
2/10 Saturday & 2/11 Sunday, Museum of Science, Black History Month Celebration https://www.mos.org/public-events/black-history-month You can book free tickets to the exhibit halls on mos.org with the code BHM24 (apply the code on the checkout page, after you click Buy Ticket, and the price will drop to $0). On Saturday you can also get free entrance to the omni theater shows, just go early and reserve seats in person at the museum.
2/11 Sunday, Frog Pond free skating and skate rentals. Tickets are released one half hour in advance, with only 225 tickets available for each session. Attendees simply have to arrive early. grab their tickets, and get ready to ice skate. Sessions are at: 10:00 a.m. and 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, & 6:00 p.m
K2 Code Monkey: Beaver Achiever. abcya.com Practice drag and drop using the track pad: Dress for the Weather
1st grade: Keyboard Zoo 2 (typing uppercase letters, punctuations and full sentences). Scratch Jr. Penguin Snow Globe.
2nd & 5th grade: Cybersecurity.
Watch the BrainPOP episode on Malware then take the Quiz.
Interland, blue level: Mindful Mountain: Share with Care.
Week 22
1/29 - 2/2, 2/5 - 2/9
K2 code.org (course A). abcya.com Practice drag and drop using the track pad: Match lower case and upper case letters
1st grade: Keyboard Zoo 2 (typing uppercase letters, punctuations and full sentences). Scratch Jr. Magic Messages
2nd grade: Typing.com Games: Fruit ninja, or balloon pop typing is ok, just set it to the level that you are comfortable with: Home Row, Easy. Don't rush into something that's too hard. Scratch Jr. Magic Messages, then Penguin Snow Globe.
5th grade: Robotics. Robotics Beginner Slides
Watch the BrainPOP episode on Robots then take the quiz.
Go to spike.legoeducation.com to program your robot
Move your robot forward and add turning. Can you navigate through an obstacle course / floor maze?
Week 21
1/22 - 1/26
K2 code.org (course A). abcya.com Typing: cup stack typing. Practice drag and drop using the track pad: Make a gingerbread house
1st grade: Typing.com. Scratch Jr. Around the world.
2nd grade: Typing.com. Scratch Jr. Around the world.
5th grade: Robotics Beginner Slides
Change the smiley face on the hub
Move the robot forward and back based on this lesson.
Week 20 - Role Models in Computer Science: Dorothy Vaughan, NASA mathematician and programmer
1/16 - 1/20, 2024
K2 code.org (course A). abcya.com Typing: cup stack typing. Practice drag and drop using the track pad: Make a snowman
1st grade: Typing.com. Scratch Jr. Around the world.
2nd grade: Typing.com. Research a Role Model on Pebble Go in the Biographies / Scientists section. Extension: Look up another famous person.
5th grade: ECForAll Curriculum. Lesson 3 (Elementary Computing for All)
U3.L1 Vocabulary: Event (Events explained in a code.org video)
U3.L2 Dorothy Vaughan
View: Dorothy Vaughan video
Discuss in whole group
Fill out the Dorothy Vaughan exit ticket
Extension: Listen to the read aloud Hidden Figures. Maybe read more about these figures on Pebble Go or Britannica.
Scratch Project: create a quick Scratch project about Dorothy Vaughan (or any of the 4 hidden figures, Katherine Jonson, Mary Jackson, Christine Darden, or other African American scientists like Mae Jamison) and add your project to our Scratch Studio for CS Role Model projects: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/34295005/
Week 18 (short week) & Week 19
1/3/2024 - 1/12/2024
K2 code.org (course A). Review: efficient drag and drop using the chromebook's trackpad. Typing: learn special keys Keyboarding Zoo 2 on abyca.com
1st grade: Typing.com Scratch Jr: Create a story. The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Make a 4 page long "digital book" with a clear beginning, middle and end.
2nd grade: Typing.com Scratch Jr: Create a story.
5th grade: Brainpop 3D printing. Tinkercad. Make a snowflake (or another small object you might want to get 3D printed).
Tutorial: make a snowflake with tinkercad
Slides: - see slide 2 for how to send your design to Ms. Boulogne for printing
How to get started with tinkercad for 1st time users:
go to Clever, search for Tinkercad
click Log in
click Student Accounts
Sign in with Google
Create an account if it prompts you to do so (if you already have an account, just log into your existing account). Enter your birthday. Tinkercad will generate long and funny username for you.
To get automatically approved, enter the classcode: LYS-FAN-NVT
Next: Click Resources (top right corner) -> Learning Center, and complete the 6 starter tutorials there: move it, rotate it...
Week 17 - winter break
Week 16 - Short week, no school on Friday
12/18 - 12/21
Grades 1-2: Choice: Scratch Jr or Santa Tracker https://santatracker.google.com/
5th grade: Choice: Scratch, Santa Tracker or Tinkercad snowflake. Next how to make a comic strip in Canva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUuQvZgV2MY
Robotics Club:
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/game-and-season info with links to mission model build instructions and challenges (ask students to bookmark this)
slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1y9z2nf8DI4U8Oq_yZvyLgNceQe1XssErdW5tXk6diFg/edit?usp=sharing
Challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI_vz9YUw1g
Beginners, go to https://spike.legoeducation.com/
Go to Units / ... / Hopper
Week 14 & 15 - CSEdWeek Computer Science Education Week
12/4 - 12/08 & 12/11 - 12/15
BPS coding contest - Submit your projects here: Dec 4 - 21 https://sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/bpscoders/2023-student-contest
Diverse CS Role Models: https://www.csedweek.org/heroes
Scratch Studio for CS Role Model projects: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/34295005/
Tip: use remove.bg to remove a background from an image you want to use as a sprite.
1st grade: Make a Scratch Jr Project
Grades 2-5: Choice: Dance Party: https://code.org/dance or Scratch, original balloon clicking game:
Use the tutorial that comes with Scratch to make a balloon clicking game:
go to Scratch.mit.edu
(sign in if you have an account, so your work is saved)
Click Create to start a new project
Click Tutorials -> Clicker Game Tutorial (balloons). Follow the steps
Enhanced Balloon Clicking Games:
Booster version. Click balloons for points. Click the apple to get a point multiplier: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/691192058
You have 10 seconds to click on the balloon, then the game stops: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/691182283
Click balloons for points. If you haven't clicked for 3 seconds, points will reset: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/691195485
Week 12 & Week 13 - Role Models in Computer Science (CS):
Find a CS Role Model you want to study, or ask me to assign you one, then create a Scratch project about that person.
These are some of the classic CS Role Models: Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, Alan Turing, Margaret Hamilton, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs
And a list of recent role models with all sorts of computer science jobs that you might be interested in for yourself later in your life: https://www.csedweek.org/heroes
11/20 - 11/22 (short week. Please work on a Scratch project over the Thanksgiving break. We can discuss after the break if you want to submit it for the BPSCoding Contest, which will be open December 4 - 17. Winners get great prizes every year!)
K2 code.org (course A).
1st grade: Typing.com. Practice using Pebble Go for researching Animals. Scratch Jr: Create a project that teaches about an animal you researched. Think of: Name of the animal, Food, Habitat
2nd grade: Typing.com. Practice using Pebble Go for researching Animals. Scratch Jr: Create a project that teaches about an animal you researched.
5th grade: ECForAll Curriculum. (Elementary Computing for All)
Vocabulary: Event: An action that causes something to happen.
Sample Project: Ofrenda. What are the events in this program, and what happens when these events occur?
Project the Events: Sample Ofrenda: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/323737554/.
Click on the Right sprite to show there are no scripts. Click on the Middle sprite and drag the when green flag clicked script from Middle to Right. Show the Right’s scripts again
Scratch coding: Create a project that teaches about CS Role Models. Requirements: Explain what a Role Model is, have at least two role models in the project that the user can click on and learn about them. Hint: use what you learned from the Ofrenda project. What happened when you clicked on grandpa? How does that code work?
Where can you learn about CS Role Models? Research on PebbleGo, Britannica for Elementary School, or on https://www.csedweek.org/heroes
Week 11 - Role Models in Computer Science, Featuring:
Ada Lovelace
Admiral Grace Hopper
Fig O'Reilly https://www.csedweek.org/cs-heroes/fionnghuala-%E2%80%9Cfig%E2%80%9D-o%E2%80%99reilly
11/12 - 11/ 16
K2 code.org (course A).
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com. Practice using Pebble Go for researching Biographies.
2nd grade: Typing.com. Research a Role Model on Pebble Go in the Biographies / Scientists section. Extension: Look up another famous person.
5th grade: ECForAll Curriculum. Lesson 0 and Lesson 1 (Elementary Computing for All)
U1.L1 Vocabulary: Algorithm and Program
U1.L2 Role Model Ada Lovelace
View: Happy Birthday Ada!
Discuss in whole group
Fill out the Ada Lovelace Exit Ticket.
Extension: Learn more about Ada Lovelace using one of these additional resources. BrainPOP Jr, Pebble Go, Britannica
Scratch coding: Create a project based on this algorithm:
When the Flag is clicked, the initial setup appears with at least 2 characters: Scratchy the cat, and Ada Lovelace (or your choice of Role Model) visible on the screen.
Scratchy the Cat says: "A Role Model is a person that others look up to and learn from" for 5 seconds
Then the cat says: "Click on the scientist to learn more about them" for 4 seconds
When the user clicks on the scientist, the Scientist scientist says something informational about her: "I'm Ada Lovelace. Many people refer to me as the first programmer".
Then make the scientist say a few more things about her (you decide what's important to know about them).
Share and Turn in your project.
Extension: Turn and Talk. How cold you change your project to make it even better?
Extension: If you have extra time, create a second version of your project.
Week 10 - Role Models in Computer Science, Featuring:
Quotes of:
Bill Gates: "Enjoy what you do and you will never have to work a day in your life"
Steve Jobs: "Everyone should know how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think"
Maria Klawe: "Coding is today's language of creativity"
Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge"
11/6 - 11/9 (There is no school on 11/10 Friday Veteran's day)
K2 code.org (course A). BrainPop Jr Loops
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com
2nd grade: Typing.com. Google Lesson 5: Google Slides. Make a Planets Presentation. Fun: Planets Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrlgH97v94
5th grade: Introducing the ECForAll Curriculum (Elementary Computing for All). Role Models in Computer Science, warmup: quotations from Enstein, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Maria Klawe.
Vocabulary: Computer Science, Inclusive curriculum, Role Model
Make a copy of this ECForAll workbook: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MGK3CJYjAQKWt-DL7WKmGo4NJB9Jc4dDhhzHpo8lQ5Y/edit?usp=sharing
Click File -> Make a Copy -> Entire Presentation. Rename the file from "ECForAll WorkBook of StudentName room# " as follows: replace StudentName with your own first and last name and replace room# with your classroom number.
Go to slide 6 and work on the Role Model assignment. Answer the question "What do you think the advice is in each of these quotations?". Write your answers in the 3 boxes on the bottom of slide 6.
Click the link below to join the Scratch Class I created for your homeroom:
300 Mr Qiao's class: http://scratch.mit.edu/signup/mxt3cmej6
303 Ms.Wang's class: http://scratch.mit.edu/signup/2jn8m959r
304 Ms. Keefe's class: http://scratch.mit.edu/signup/5yf4cctv3
305 Mr Lee's class: I created a class for you called jqes5305 in Scratch, and created a student account for each of you. I will tell you your usernames and passwords in person. Note: I know some of you already have a Scratch account from previous years. If you are a SUPER ADVANCED CODER and the Share button works in your existing account, you may ask me for permission to keep using that account. Only a few students will be allowed to do that, who will work on independent projects that I approve of first.
306 Ms. Aguayo's class: http://scratch.mit.edu/signup/d4e4dkt35
308 Ms. Gillespie's class: http://scratch.mit.edu/signup/tethn65mn
221 Ms Menna's class:
http://scratch.mit.edu/signup/cvtwm5t5e
Week 9 - Dia de Los Muertos
10/30 - 11/3
K2 code.org (course A). BrainPop Jr: Patterns
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com
2nd grade: Typing.com. Google Lesson 3: Keyboard Scavenger Hunt (Shift, Enter, @, !, etc)
3rd grade: Adobe Express. Lesson 1: Create an About Me animation
Do Now: Click on this About Me Step by Step Instruction. The instruction PDF will prompt you to click on the picture in step 1 to get started. Then click Login with Google: it logs you in with your school account. Read the prompts, record your response, then click Open in Adobe, so you can add further textboxes and elements (graphics).
5th grade: Dia De Los Muertos - Scratch Skill: Copying scripts from one sprite to another with drag and drop
Watch PBS Dia de los Muertos
Project the Events: Sample Ofrenda: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/323737554/.
Click on the Right sprite to show there are no scripts. Click on the Middle sprite and drag the when green flag clicked script from Middle to Right. Show the Right’s scripts again
TGH Post survey: https://techgoeshome.tfaforms.net///5033555?courseid=a0s2M00000dqsHn
Week 8 - Digital Citizenship
All students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life.
10/23 - 10/27
K2 DigCit: Meet the digital citizens, Lesson 1: Arms - Balance your media use time. code.org (course A)
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com
2nd grade: Typing.com. Google Lesson 3: Keyboard Scavenger Hunt (Shift, Enter, @, !, etc)
5th grade: Power Up Your Password and start our Scratch coding sessions
Power Up Your Password Exercise: View Cybersecurity slides 20 - 25, then fill out the Power Up Your Password sheet and return it to the teacher for grading.
Scratch coding: go to Scratch.mit.edu, and verify that you can log into your account. If you don't have an account, ask me for one (I created 500 students accounts) or create your own. If you create your own, use a safe password, also use your school email, then log into your school email to verify your new Scratch account, which will enable you to share your scratch projects and send them to me (otherwise I won't be able to see and grade your work). Next, create a project based on the "Make a conversation" tutorial that comes with Scratch. Share your project and submit it in the EXIT TICKET
Robotics Club:
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/game-and-season info with links to mission model build instructions and challenges (ask students to bookmark this)
Challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI_vz9YUw1g
[Reminder: Next week start showcasing important people in computer science.]
Week 7 - Digital Citizenship Week
All students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life.
10/16 - 10/20
Themes: Submit all outstanding google doc work.
K2 DigCit: Take care of devices BPS AUP (Acceptable Use Policy), code.org (course A)
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com, DigCit: Take care of devices BPS AUP (Acceptable Use Policy). Nearpod "Time To Climb" game: go to join.nearpod.org, the teacher will tell you what code to use join the game
2nd grade: Typing.com. Google Lesson 3: Keyboard Scavenger Hunt (Shift, Enter, @, !, etc)
Challenge: start a weekly journal titled "My Computer Class Notes" in your Computer Specialty folder. Write down what you learned in September in computer class.
Sample
5th grade: Adobe Express: "Hello, my name is" challenge
Try the new AI feature. Use GenAI text effects to introduce yourself. Click here to get started, create a Nametag and submit it in the Exit Ticket.
Robotics Club:
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/game-and-season info with links to mission model build instructions and challenges (ask students to bookmark this)
Week 6
10/10 - 10/13 (Monday is Indegenious People day)
Themes: Submit all outstanding google doc work
K2 code.org (course A) Fun: abcya Dress for the Weather
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com,
2nd grade: Typing.com. Finish Google Lesson 2: Finish writing the Happy Birthday doc or the About Me doc (whichever you worked on last week)
5th grade:
Adobe Final Project: Create a portfolio of your work.
Adobe Challenge: The Best Pet. Create another animation from voice. Subject: Which animal makes the best pet? Audience: your friend or your parents, Purpose: Write a convincing argument (You want your parent to get you this pet, or you think your friend should get one).
Some resources for your pet research:
Search on kiddle.com or Read: https://www.emotionalpetsupport.com/2017/03/pets-good-health/?gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzNKZy5yZgQMV8UByCh1J7gAREAAYBCAAEgI1VfD_BwE
Fun: NPR listen. The Story of a Stray dog
Week 5
10/2 - 10/6
Themes: How to be kind . Write a happy birthday card.
Copy and Paste this text into a new google document. Use the shortcuts CTRL C and CTRL V to copy and paste.
K2 code.org (course A). abcya:
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com, abcya, Make a Cake
2nd grade: Typing.com. Google Lesson 2: Write another google document titled "Birthday Card"
Activity: Write a birthday card. Make it a google document, and store it in your Computer Specialty folder on your google drive.
Sample
5th grade: Adobe Express: Make a presentation about a country for Hispanic Heritage month. Students research Spanish Speaking countries and decorate the school with a walk through exhibit. Each 5th grade class is assigned a different country. Specialists help students research the country: Puerto Rico 5-306 Ms. Aguayo, Dominican Republic (not Mexico) 5-303 Ms Wang, Mexico 5-304 Ms. Keefe, Ecuador 5-300 Mr. Qiao, Costa Rica 5-308 Ms. Gillespie, Bolivia 5-305 Mr Lee
Research your country. The easiest is to google it. For example search for "Bolivia facts for kids". This will return short, useful and easy to understand information. Your homeroom teacher will probably give you better resources, but this is a good place to start. Just remember, to fact check the information on a few different websites, because not everything is true what you read on the internet.
Go to Adobe Express (from Clever).
Find the Costa Rica template, and modify it. If the country you are supposed to research is Costa Rica, then you just have to insert some fun facts that you looked up, and switch out a few of the photos to ones that you like more. If your country is Bolivia, then replace the title Costa Rica with Bolivia in the template, replace all the images to pictures of Bolivia, and insert some fun facts about Bolivia. This is how:
go to Clever, click Adobe Express
click Explore (last icon on the left sidebar), then a search box appears on top. choose Templates from the drop down, then search for Puerto Rico. It will find a template for you.
Double click the Costa Rica template to open it, then go to the second page of the template, and type some facts in the text boxes. Click the T (the text box tool on the left side bar) if you need extra textboxes for extra spaces, then type in the boxes that pop up.
click on an Costa Rica image in the template, then click the replace tool (upper left corner next to the selected photo) and search for Bolivia photos. choose one you like. replace the rest of the images too.
Week 4 Hispanic Heritage Month
9/25 - 9/29
Themes: Digital Citizenship lesson3, Code.org, digital journal, CS vocabulary. Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 - Oct 15)
K2 DigCit, code.org, abcya: Uppercase and lowercase letter match
1st grade: Code.org, Typing.com
2nd grade: Typing.com. Google Lesson 1: How to create a folder and a google document. Introduce google tools. What is Google? What can you do with google?
Activity: Create a "Computer Specialty" folder on your google drive, then create an "About Me" file (a google document) inside the Computer Specialty folder.
Sample
Video tutorial
5th grade: Adobe Express: Make a presentation about a country for Hispanic Heritage month. Students research Spanish Speaking countries and decorate the school with a walk through exhibit. Each 5th grade class is assigned a different country. Specialists help students research the country: Puerto Rico 5-306 Ms. Aguayo, Mexico 5-303 Ms Wang and 5-304 Ms. Keefe, Ecuador 5-300 Mr. Qiao, Costa Rica 5-308 Ms. Gillespie, Bolivia 5-305 Mr Lee
Research your country. The easiest is to google it. For example search for "Bolivia facts for kids". This will return short, useful and easy to understand information. Your homeroom teacher will probably give you better resources, but this is a good place to start. Just remember, to fact check the information on a few different websites, because not everything is true what you read on the internet.
Go to Adobe Express (from Clever).
Find the Costa Rica template, and modify it. If the country you are supposed to research is Costa Rica, then you just have to insert some fun facts that you looked up, and switch out a few of the photos to ones that you like more. If your country is Bolivia, then replace the title Costa Rica with Bolivia in the template, replace all the images to pictures of Bolivia, and insert some fun facts about Bolivia. This is how:
go to Clever, click Adobe Express
click Explore (last icon on the left sidebar), then a search box appears on top. choose Templates from the drop down, then search for Puerto Rico. It will find a template for you.
Double click the Costa Rica template to open it, then go to the second page of the template, and type some facts in the text boxes. Click the T (the text box tool on the left side bar) if you need extra textboxes for extra spaces, then type in the boxes that pop up.
click on an Costa Rica image in the template, then click the replace tool (upper left corner next to the selected photo) and search for Bolivia photos. choose one you like. replace the rest of the images too.
Week 3
9/18- 9/22
Themes: Digital Citizenship lesson2, Code.org, google docs
K2: DigCit: "Head" Pause and think online. Start code.org (course A), drag and drop practice. abcya: connect the dots 123 and alphabet zoo
1st grade: Code.org (course B), Typing.com
2nd grade: Typing.com.
5th grade: Adobe Express. Lesson 2: Good Design and Rubrics for Feedback.
Practice: Create a 6 word summary in Adobe for the 3 little pigs. Don't worry if it's not great, because I will not grade this, but we will discuss and learn from our mistakes. Work in small groups (people at your table is your group).
Adobe Express slides: Lesson 2
Challenge: We all went to the Schubert theater to celebrate the international dot day on 9/15 Friday. Create a 6 word summary in Adobe Express for the book The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, which was published 20 years ago.
Week 2
9/11 - 9/15 Warmup: listen to NPR: Scout the dog, https://www.npr.org/2023/09/06/1197824640/a-stray-dog-kept-showing-up-at-a-nursing-home-residents-finally-adopted-it
Themes: Classroom Rules and Expectations, curriculum overview, icebreakers, Digital Citizenship lesson1 of 6
K-1 DigCit: "Arms" Balance is important. How to balance your media time.
2nd grade: orientation, classroom rules. Typing.com. Introduce google tools. Google Drive, create a folder "Computer Specialty".
5th grade: orientation, classroom rules. Adobe Express. What can you make in Adobe Express? Lesson 1: Create an About Me animation
Adobe Express slides: Lesson 1
Activity: Create an About Me animation from voice. Adobe Express slides: go to lesson1 on slide 2, click Do NOW.
Week 1 (short week)
9/7 - 9/8
grades 1-2 orientation 5th grade: icebreaker: Adobe Express: My Favorite Place lesson. Some ideas: A country, a city, your bedroom, the playground, grandma's house, some place you went this summer, some place you walk through like the Boston Common, umm... school?
The History of Technology Slides Day1
Vocabulary: Technology
Question of the Day: What is Technology? Write a definition in the Exit Ticket
Related reading: Technology and Invention, Britannica Kids article. Read Ancient Technology, Technology in the Middle Ages and Industrial Revolution (first 2 pages).
Activity: Draw a timeline of ancient technology
CLARIFICATION about wheels. When was the wheel invented? There is a difference between stone wheels and wooden wheels. Stone wheels were used for pottery in the Neolithical period (aka "New Stone Age", just before the Bronze Age started). Wooden wheels for transportation were invented in the Bronze Age:
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/science/amazing-inventions/wheel/
Note Catcher:
Generic Exit Ticket to show what you learned today
Next week: Intro to Lego Robotics. Play with Events: color sensor.
Extension: Could you make a red light, green light game with a lego robot? What is the event and what's the action in this case?
CS Role Model, Damilola Awofisayo: Black History Month is a perfect opportunity to show students that civil rights isn't just something in the past that we read about in the biographies of our heroes. Damilola Awofisayo is a current-day example of a young person who is both standing on the shoulders of Black history while also making it—in the field of artificial intelligence. Along with her peers, who are part of the youth-powered movement Encode Justice, Damilola recognizes the important role of social justice in our tech-driven culture. In her own words, "Looking at history, civil rights were always fought [for] by teenagers."
Robotics Club:
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/game-and-season info with links to mission model build instructions and challenges (ask students to bookmark this)
slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1y9z2nf8DI4U8Oq_yZvyLgNceQe1XssErdW5tXk6diFg/edit?usp=sharing
Challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI_vz9YUw1g
Beginners, go to https://spike.legoeducation.com/
Go to Units / ... / Hopper
Dancing Robot created by Boston Dynamics
Dance Routine "Do You Love Me" - in case you want to learn
About Me, Ms Blake How to create your own:
Go to Clever, click Adobe Express (single sign on)
Click Quick Action -> Animate from voice