CS is a Super Power

Super heroes solve problems.  Check out this puzzle to practice your skills!

Some things you need to know:

• Link to activity is HERE.

• This activity does not require computers.  

• Logic is a crucial concept in computer science.  Because a computer is a series of electronic circuits that are “on” or “off”, logic is a huge part of figuring out errors in both hardware and software.

• Here is a link to a large booklet.  This activity was from the logic section of this booklet, in case you are looking for more ideas! 

From Hero to Superhero - use code to change an “Everyday Hero” into a Superhero.

Some things you need to know:

• Here is a link to the Google CS First Activity.

• Here are the Teacher’s Notes for this activity.

• This is a project where students are celebrating “everyday superheroes” like their teacher, coach, grandparent, etc.  So this will be a chance for you to learn about someone who is very important in each of your students’ lives.

• Students will create this lesson using scratch.  

• After they have programmed the superhero to talk, they can use the many other videos on the page to customize their superhero in many different ways.  “Showing off a spin” and “Keeping score” would be great ways to push more advanced programmers.

AI for Oceans - learn about machine learning and ethical use of artificial intelligence. 

Some things you need to know:

• Students do not need to login to do this activity.

• Here is a link to the lesson, which is available in 25+ languages.

• I’d recommend starting this with students, asking students to pause and watch the video with you, and then letting them go ahead with the puzzles. 

• Encourage students to work together.

• Machine learning and AI are two cutting edge applications that use computer science.  Both rely on data, the information fed to the computer’s algorithms.  If that information is biased, the algorithms will be biased as well.

Make a flappy bird game!

Some things you need to know:

• Here is a link to the activity and here is a teacher guide.

• This could be a first-time project or it could be a continuation from the angry bird tutorial shown to the left.

• Students follow directions to move through the tutorial and create a game.

Text Compression - in this activity students will figure out the super power of how to shrink text.

Some things you need to know:

• Students do not need to login to do this activity.

• Here is a link to the activity.

• There is a video to introduce the widget being used.

• While this could be student-led, I recommend instead showing the videos to the class and then having students partner up to move through the coding challenges.  They could share one computer or they could each have it open on their computers while moving through the tutorial together.

Use CS to Simulate Elastic Collisions (which happen a LOT to super heroes)

Some things you need to know:

• Students do not need to login to do this activity. Activity is here.  Use one of the videos to introduce the activity.

• The lesson starts with a video to introduce the physics/math they will be learning through the simulation.  It could be student led, BUT:

  • Students will need to be okay with some math notation and some physics or with teaching themselves.  

  • You may want to show the video, pause and scaffold, or you may have them skip the teaching video and instead introduce the activity your way.  

• Students should code changes, test changes, and move through the tutorials.  Without guidance, it is easy for students to change and not test.  Be sure you are circling the room to encourage testing.

• Pair programming (where one student has the directions open and the other is in charge of the code) is encouraged here.  You could create a google document that students reply to as a way to gauge/encourage student engagement.