Sun Terrace Technology Times
A monthly newsletter of tech tips, tricks and resources.
What we are working on in K-2
In April, students will continue their work in Scratch Jr and learning how to change the scene and add dialogue and wait time. In May students Students will create a ScratchJr project to animate a story that students have read in class or one that students imagine themselves. This project requires students to apply all of the knowledge and skills they have learned throughout the course.
Resources for you:
The standards we are working on are:
- CSTA 1A-CS-01: Select and operate appropriate software to perform a variety of tasks, and recognize that users have different needs and preferences for the technology they use.
- CSTA 1A-AP-10: Develop programs with sequences and simple loops, to express ideas or address a problem.
All lessons and resources used can be found at K-2 Computer Science Curriculum.
What we are working on in grade 3.
This month students will use what they learned so far to create an animated story about a Native American tribe to present at Open House.
Third grade students will then move into learning about Scratch to prepare them for next year. They will begin learning about Scratch blocks and create a "Scratch Surprise" project. They will work towards earning Scratch "Ninja Badges" through Google Classroom and can work at their own pace as new concepts are introduced.
Resources for you:
The standards we are working on are:
- CSTA 1A-CS-01: Select and operate appropriate software to perform a variety of tasks, and recognize that users have different needs and preferences for the technology they use.
- CSTA 1A-AP-10: Develop programs with sequences and simple loops, to express ideas or address a problem.
- CSTA 1A-AP-11: Decompose the steps needed to solve a problem into a precise sequence of instructions.
- CSTA 1B-AP-10: Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals
What we are working on in 4-5
In April and May students will use all of the programming skills they have learned in this course to create an interactive project that can be controlled with a Makey Makey. They will work together in small groups, first sketching out their plans and sharing their ideas with a critique group, then building their project in Scratch, and lastly presenting it to peers in a student showcase.
Resources for you:
The standards we are working on are:
- CSTA 1B-NI-05: Discuss real-world cybersecurity problems and how personal information can be protected.
- CSTA 1B-CS-02: Model how computer hardware and software work together as a system to accomplish tasks.
- CSTA 1B-AP-10: Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.
- CSTA 1B-AP-17: Describe choices made during program development using code comments, presentations, and demonstrations.
- CSTA 1B-AP-13: Use an iterative process to plan the development of a program by including others' perspectives and considering user preferences.
- CSTA 1B-AP-15: Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.
All lessons and resources can be found at 3-5 Computer Science Curriculum
Scratch Tutorials Site
Digital Breakout Edu
A fun one for Google tools for YOU =)
Get Out of GSuite Digital Breakout
Please let me know if you want more!
Watch Youtube videos without distractions in a family-friendly environment
To register for a webinar, click on the title. Then click "Show in my Time Zone" to view the time of the webinar.
If you are unable to join live, register. All registrants receive an email with the webinar recording the day after the live webinar.
Code.org FREE Online Professional Development
Teaching Computer Science Fundamentals is intended as an introduction to computer science fundamentals and the Code.org K-5 resources for teachers. Through reading, viewing videos, completing interactive puzzles and reflecting on your learning, you'll develop your own understanding while preparing to teach computer science in your classroom.
Learning Objectives
Through completing this online course, participants will:
- Learn the basics of computer science
- Review best practices for teaching these basics to your students
- Access free curriculum and resources for teachers
- Plan for how you might get started teaching Computer Science Basics
- Connect with a community of fellow educators who are making positive change in their classrooms through coding
Pre-requisites
No previous experience with coding or computer science education is assumed. This is a beginner's course. To check it out click on the button below!
Thanks for reading! Hope you found the resources useful.
Email: mourakd@mdusd.org
Website: karlymoura.blogspot.com
Twitter: @KarlyMoura