December 7 - 13, 2020 students around the world will be trying out computer science. There are lots of great options for activities. To support teachers in inspiring their students, SJCOE and CodeStack are providing quick and easy standards-based video lessons on addressing California Computer Science standards. We’ll show 5 different languages and free tools with activities targeted by grade span.
Scratch Jr. is an icon block-based programming language kids can code on tablets and Chromebooks. We’ll decompose building a snowman in to several simple commands. Students will be learning California Computer Science Standard
Scratch is a block-based programming language that can be installed or used in browser. Students can reuse starter code to create their own snowflake design.
Students will be learning California Computer Science Standard 3-5.AP.14: Create programs by incorporating smaller portions of existing programs, to develop something new or add more advanced features.
TinkerCAD Codeblocks is a programming languge that makes complex structures from simple 3D geometric shapes. We’ll look at using feedback to improve computational artifacts.
Students will be learning California Computer Science Standard 6-8.AP.15: Seek and incorporate feedback from team members and users to refine a solution that meets user needs.
Large projects can be simplified by abstracting away details. We’ll use MakeCode Arcade to program a sprite moving on the screen as a button is pressed and learn how to simplify engineering problems.
Students will be learning California Computer Science Standard 9-12.CS.1: Describe ways in which abstractions hide the underlying implementation details of computing systems to simplify user experiences.
Once you've started representing motion, you can use that skill to create a platform game. Jeremy Love will take you step-by-step through writing a platform scrolling game. As you notice variables being set like velocity and acceleration consider what is being modeled. As Jeremy explains these choices he is fulfilling 9-12.AP.22: Document decisions made during the design process using text, graphics, presentations, and/or demonstrations in the development of complex programs. Please let us know what awesome video games you design and how you coded them.
We can learn a lot from a computer model. From things that take too long to watch or are too small to see, computer models allow scientists and decision makers to understand data. We’ll observe weather phenomena and look at computer models with NetLogo.
Students will be learning California Computer Science Standard 9-12S.DA.9: Evaluate the ability of models and simulations to test and support the refinement of hypotheses.