CS + Social Studies HoC Resources
Celebrate Computer Science Ed Week with an Hour of Code!
What is Hour of Code?
Want to change the world? Let's get started.
Computer Science for Good. #CSforGood
Inspired by the United Nationsโ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2019 Hour of Code will highlight how we can all use computer science to make a positive impact on our world, from writing apps to solve a local problem, to using innovative ideas in data science to address global challenges.
Post to social media with:
#CSforGood #HourOfCode #CSforGWAEA #CSforIA
How do I host an Hour of Code?
Or, you can follow the steps outlined in the video below:
You can also contact Gary Vogt from the Regional IT Sector Board at gary.vogt@kirkwood.edu to arrange a face to face volunteer from local computer science and information technology professionals.
Choose an Hour of Code Activity
We picked out a few unplugged (or offline) and online activities we really like for integrating Computer Science into Social Studies content and shared them below.
Activities are listed from lower grades on the left to higher grades on the right. In general, you'll find PreK-5 examples in the left column, middle school examples in the middle column, and high school examples in the right column.
Unplugged Activities
Elementary ๐ฉ๐ผโ๐ป Middle ๐จ๐พโ๐ป High
Women in Tech
Unplugged Activity
This 3-part unit explores gender inequality and engages students in activities and discussions around different experiences and perspectives. Highlighting influential women in the history of tech, students learn about past pioneers and form their own opinions on equality in the tech field. At the end of the unit, students express their opinions in writing to effect change in their school community.
Ceasar Cipher Wheel
Unplugged Activity
In this Hour of Code activity, students are introduced to cryptography by using the classic Caesar cipher to decrypt and encrypt some messages, and also discover the cipher's flaw and how to improve upon it.
Best Technology Activity
Unplugged Activity
Students will learn about and discuss important technological inventions over the last few decades.
Beginner Activities
Elementary ๐ Middle ๐ High
Grace Hopper Debugging Activity
Lesson Plan
Help students learn about Grace Hopper and why this week is CS EdWeek.
Flags of the World (Python Turtle
Self-led Tutorial
This activity is designed to give you your first experience programming, and has been specially designed for the Hour of Code. Use the programming language Python and its turtle module to draw flags from around the world!
Vidcode: Code the News
Self-led Tutorial
It's the HOC News! Videos and graphics are all about tech, diversity, kids, and coding. Finished projects can be uploaded to school website as the report on the HOC itself. Teachers can encourage students to use the news to report on what they learned, or a statistic for their school. "Breaking News: 400 students at Roosevelt participate in the Hour of Code"
Comfortable Activities
Elementary ๐บ Middle โ๏ธ High
iCipher
This teacher led activity, adapted for the Hour of Code teaches children about communicating securely. The children learn that messages throughout time have been encrypted and decrypted using ciphers. They explore cryptography and gain an understanding of need for secure communications.
Pop Culture Data Science
This activity gives beginners an accessible introduction to crowd-sourcing data, visualization, and data analysis using interactive tools. The aim is to demonstrate that anybody can contribute to data science projects and that computer science can be connected to a wide variety of topics (even trends in popular culture) making it relevant to a variety of people. In this activity, students practice asking their own questions about popular culture and seeking answers to those questions using computational tools.
Cryptocurrency: Explore Blockchain Technology
Students learn about the foundations of cryptocurrencies by exploring cryptography, hashing, and blockchain technology!
Spread the Word Before and Celebrate After your Hour of Code
Questions? Contact Us!
Hour of Code is a wonderful way to build excitement and provide students and educators opportunities to code! Please contact Corey Rogers if you're interested in incorporating Computer Science and coding into your learning community.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Corey (crogers@gwaea.org) or your district's Digital Learning Consultant for more information.
Email: crogers@gwaea.org
Website: dlgwaea.org
Location: 4401 6th Street Southwest, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
Phone: 3193825902
Twitter: @dlgwaea