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3rd Grade Computer Science

This course is designed to provide computer science instruction for third grade students. It is meant to be taught approximately once a week by a designated computer science teacher.

Overview & Highlights

Level
Elementary School
Number of Lessons
34
Grade
3rd

Overview of Lessons

Scratch Exploration

Welcome to CodeHS!

Students will learn how to log in and use the CodeHS Playground.

Scout's Scratch Expedition Part 1

This lesson is part of a sequential story-driven unit. Students will use basic Scratch commands to program a sprite to move and talk.

Scout's Scratch Expedition Part 2

This lesson is part of a sequential story-driven unit. Students will follow along with a story. Students will add sprites in Scratch and create a sequence to animate a story.

Scout's Scratch Expedition Part 3

This lesson is part of a sequential story-driven unit. Students will create an animated Scout story in Scratch using loops, events, looks, and motion blocks.

Scout's Scratch Expedition Part 4

This lesson is part of a sequential story-driven unit. Students will create an animated Scout story in Scratch using events, looks, and motion blocks.

Scratch Drawing Tools

Students will be able to create customized sprites and backdrops using the drawing tools.
Sequences & Events

Sequences: Parallel Programming

Students will be able to create a program using parallel sequences.

Events

Students will be able to create a program using events.

Costumes, Backdrops, and Animations

Students will be able to create a program that includes animated sprites and interactive backdrops.

Broadcast Messages: Marco Polo

Students will be able to use broadcast messages to trigger action between sprites in a program.

Creative Storytelling

Students will be able to plan and animate a story using events and sequences.
Loops

Loops (Unplugged)

Students will be able to explain that a loop repeats a command or a set of commands and interpret the control flow of a program.

Loops

Students will be able to explain that a loop repeats one or more instructions, and use loops in Scratch.

Debugging: Events and Loops

Students will be able to decompose a program to debug and make the program run as intended.

Animating Poetry

Students will be able to create an animated reading of a poem using events and loops. This version of the lesson is focused on Computer Science concepts.

Loops: Falling Objects

Students will be able to create a program using different loops and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each loop algorithm.
Conditionals

Introduction to Conditionals

Students will be able to explain what a conditional is in programming and create a program that uses if/then blocks.

Conditionals: Color Sense

Students will be able to explain what a conditional is and use them in a program.

Conditionals: Changing Effects

Students will be able to create a program using conditionals.

Complex Conditionals: Balloon Game

Students will be able to explain what an “if/then/else” conditional is and use it in a program.

Platform Game Design

Students will be able to implement the mechanics of a platform game for a player to navigate, use keyboard events to add player movement, and use a forever loop to check and respond to game conditions. Students will debug and improve their programs.
Variables & Lists

Variables

Students will be able to explain what a variable is and create and change the value of a variable in a program.

Introduction to Comparison Operators

Students will be able to use comparison operators as the condition in an if/else block, and use numbers and variables as values in a comparison operator.

I-Spy with Lists

Students will be able to create an I-Spy style activity using variables and lists in Scratch.

Race Track Game

Students will be able to use drawing tools to design their own race car and race track, then program a racing game that tracks players' scores using conditionals, variables, and lists.
Functions

Introduction to Functions

Students will be able to create and use functions in a program.

Functions Dance Project

Students will be able to create and use functions to call dance moves in a sequence that aligns with the music.
Culmination Projects

Digital Pet Project

Students will create a digital pet project using events, conditionals, variables, comparison operators, and broadcasts.
Digital Literacy

How Computing Systems Work

Students will differentiate between inputs and outputs for computer-based systems and identify types of software used in different technologies.

Computer Detectives: Hardware and Software Problems

Students will be able to solve simple hardware and software problems

Digital Identity

Students will be able to connect their real world identity with their online identity and identify actions that create a positive digital footprint.

Strong Usernames and Passwords

Students will be able to develop a strong username and password and explain how a strong password keeps their information safe.

Research: Effective Keywords

Students will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different keywords when using a search engine and determine if a source is relevant to their research question.

Machine Learning: Face Sensing

Students will be able to use Face Sensing blocks to explore machine learning in Scratch Lab.
28
Exercises
22
Offline Handouts

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