One concept that does need to be explicitly taught is broadcast and receive blocks. I’ve had difficulty getting students to buy into the use of broadcast and receive blocks over “wait” blocks. My hunch is that they’re difficult to understand because of the lack of a visual reaction on the Scratch stage. Unplugged activities to the rescue!
Earlier this year, I shared how I introduce my students to the idea that their computer science skills can be used to create positive change in the world. In honor of #CSEdWeek, I wanted to share our first project – coding a public service announcement!
Inspired by my students, research proposing that meaningful work could help close the gender gap in tech, and my hope that students might see themselves in their work, I revamped my sixth grade curriculum to be framed around computer science for social good. Here’s my lesson plan for day 1 of class.
The fifth grade curriculum I inherited included a pretty prescribed worksheet detailing how to make sprites do specific actions. I quickly became annoyed that I had to repeatedly tell the students to do what was asked first and explore later. Clearly, I was doing it wrong.
I love starting off the year with an unplugged activity. Without the technical difficulties of logging in or setting up a computer on the first day, we get to build a classroom culture of collaboration, exploration, and fun.
Since I always feel short on time, I try to find out what they already know while doing fun activities that set the tone for my classroom. I want students to know that it’s okay to laugh and have fun, try something even if they’re not sure, ask questions, and work together.