Resources

Code.org – Elementary Curriculum

Link:

https://code.org/educate/curriculum/elementary

Code.org provides a free curriculum designed for K–5 students to learn basic programming and computational thinking. Lessons are highly interactive, combining puzzles, games, and creativity challenges that help students practice sequencing, debugging, and problem-solving. The curriculum is accessible for both teachers with and without coding backgrounds, making it ideal for introducing computational thinking in diverse classrooms. Aligned with ISTE Standard 1-5, this resource encourages students to break problems into smaller parts, use logical reasoning, and persevere through challenges.

ScratchJr App

Link:

https://www.scratchjr.org/

ScratchJr is a beginner-friendly app that empowers young learners to create their own interactive stories and games. Using a simple, visual block-coding interface, students learn core computational thinking skills like sequencing, pattern recognition, and cause-and-effect. Designed specifically for early elementary students, ScratchJr fosters creativity while building confidence in problem-solving. By debugging and adjusting their projects, students practice resilience and iterative design, both of which align with the ISTE Standard for computational thinking.

CS Unplugged Activities

Link:

https://csunplugged.org/en/

CS Unplugged offers screen-free lessons that introduce computational thinking concepts such as algorithms, binary numbers, and data representation. Students engage in games, puzzles, and physical activities that illustrate how computers “think.” These lessons are highly adaptable and inclusive, making them perfect for classrooms with limited technology access. By emphasizing collaboration and hands-on exploration, CS Unplugged helps students develop problem-solving strategies and logical reasoning skills, directly supporting ISTE Standard 1-5 in a playful and accessible way.

Hour of Code – Activities

Link:

https://hourofcode.com/us/learn

The Hour of Code initiative offers bite-sized coding tutorials across subjects and grade levels. Activities feature popular themes like Minecraft, Frozen, or robotics, making them engaging for students while teaching problem-solving, debugging, and algorithm design. Each activity is designed to be completed in about an hour, giving students a chance to practice computational thinking without an overwhelming time commitment. These resources show how coding concepts can be introduced in fun, meaningful ways while encouraging persistence and experimentation.

Seesaw (Student-Driven Portfolios)

Link:

https://web.seesaw.me/

Seesaw is a digital portfolio platform where students document their learning and share it with teachers and families. While not exclusively a coding tool, Seesaw supports computational thinking by encouraging students to explain their reasoning, reflect on their process, and present solutions in creative formats (drawings, videos, recordings). This metacognitive element helps students build connections between problem-solving steps and outcomes. Aligned with ISTE Standard 1-5, Seesaw emphasizes iterative improvement and communication of thinking.

Kodable App

Link:

https://www.kodable.com/

Kodable introduces elementary students to the world of programming through engaging games that teach coding fundamentals. Students solve mazes and challenges that require sequencing, loops, and conditional logic. As learners progress, the challenges gradually increase in complexity, fostering persistence and resilience. Kodable makes abstract concepts like algorithms and problem decomposition tangible, allowing students to experience computational thinking in action. This aligns well with ISTE Standard 1-5 by promoting logical reasoning and systematic problem-solving

Google for Education: Computational Thinking

Link:

https://edu.google.com/intl/ALL_us/future-of-the-classroom/computational-thinking/

Google for Education’s Computational Thinking resource provides strategies and lesson plans that help teachers integrate problem-solving into all content areas. The site emphasizes the four pillars of computational thinking: decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms. Teachers can access cross-curricular examples that highlight how computational thinking applies beyond coding, such as analyzing data in science or organizing arguments in writing. This resource reinforces the importance of teaching students to use technology to design and test solutions, a core aspect of ISTE Standard 1-5.

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