Virginia Computer Science: Kindergarten
- Level Elementary School
- Number of Lessons 39
- Grade K
This course is designed to provide computer science and technology instruction for Virginia Kindergarten students. Students learn programming and technology concepts, including: computing systems, networks and the Internet, data analysis, algorithms and programming, and impacts of computing.
See the full syllabus for all topics and activities, or explore the course to try it out.
UNITS - 8 (39 lessons)
Introduces coding fundamentals away from the computer through unplugged sequencing, maze card games, acting out events, and basic mouse and keyboard skills.
Introduces the CodeHopJr Playground, computer basics, responsible technology use, and computational thinking applied to morning routines.
Follows a story-driven Scout adventure teaching characters, backgrounds, pages, and motion sequencing, plus drawing tools for a fairy-tale scene.
Builds sequencing and event skills using motion blocks and show/hide and grow/shrink blocks to animate an underwater scene.
Teaches students to build multi-page programs and navigate between scenes, plus a spacecraft-design careers connection.
Explores speed and sound blocks, loops, and debugging through a personal "All About Me" project and animal-themed programs.
Applies the design process to build capstone projects including an interactive chicken-crossing game and an animated wildlife scene.
Covers beginning research skills, simple data analysis, the impact of computing, data storage, networks, and an introduction to AI through decision trees.
Explore a sample lesson from this course!
Kindergarten students learn computer basics and responsible technology use, then create their first block-based programs alongside Scout the squirrel. Throughout the year they use events, sequences, show and hide blocks, pages, and loops to build animations and stories, explore a spacecraft design career, practice the design process, and create a Chicken Crossing game and a wildlife scene. Students also practice simple research, explore data and how computers store files, learn how networks connect people, and discover how AI sorts information and helps people.
The course includes 36 lessons, each about 30 minutes long, providing a full year of instruction when taught once a week. Every lesson is built in a ready-to-teach format, with step-by-step videos that walk students through the lesson. Lessons are designed to be teacher-led using an "I do, we do, you do" format, and a self-paced option is also available. Optional unplugged lessons at the start of the course introduce sequences and events through hands-on activities, along with mouse and keyboard practice.
No. There are no prerequisites, and the course is designed to support all learners regardless of prior computer science experience. Optional lessons at the start of the course include unplugged activities and mouse and keyboard practice before students begin programming.
Virginia Computer Science: Kindergarten is aligned to the Virginia Computer Science Standards of Learning. Lessons required to fully meet the standards are labeled in the course syllabus with the standards they address, and all Digital Literacy lessons are required because they cover essential non-programming computer science concepts.
