G4 & 5

Objective: To understand how computer code can control physical objects like lights and sensors.

Lesson 1: The Magic Brain

Core Value: Resourcefulness (Investigate before you ask)

I. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, my students will be able to:

1.      Identify the Microcontroller as the "brain" of a machine.

2.      Recognize the physical components of the Arduino Uno (USB, Reset, Pins).

3.      Successfully Upload a basic "Handshake" program (Blink) using block coding.

II. The Lesson Flow

1. The Hook (5 Minutes)

I will hold up a standard TV remote or a battery-operated toy and ask:

·         "If I press this button, why does the channel change? Who is making that decision?" I'll explain that inside almost every smart device is a "Magic Brain" just like the one on their desks.

2. Physical Exploration (10 Minutes)

I will instruct the students to look at their Arduino boards (without touching the pins yet!) and find the following:

·         The Processor: The black rectangle. I’ll tell them, "This is where your Scratch blocks are stored once we hit 'Upload'."

·         The USB Port: The "Ears." This is where the computer talks to the board.

·         Pin 13: I’ll ask them to find the tiny LED next to the letter 'L'. We are going to make that blink today.

3. The "First Handshake" Coding (20 Minutes)

I will project my screen and show them how to build the logic. Since they know Scratch, I will use these specific blocks:

·         Header: When Arduino Uno starts up

·         Loop: Forever

·         Action: Set Digital Pin 13 to HIGH (Explain: HIGH = Power/On)

·         Wait: Wait 1 seconds

·         Action: Set Digital Pin 13 to LOW (Explain: LOW = No Power/Off)

·         Wait: Wait 1 seconds

4. The "Moment of Truth" (10 Minutes)

I will walk around the "Atelier" and help students click the Connect and Upload buttons.

·         Teacher Tip: If a student's board doesn't blink, I’ll ask them: "Is your cable plugged in all the way? Did you select the right Serial Port?" (Encouraging that Lebanese curriculum focus on troubleshooting).