In this byte, you will find activities that you can use to take the learning outside with this set of unplugged, outside computer science activities for elementary school, K-5, classrooms. Use these lessons at any time of the year to engage students with new content, reinforce existing concepts, correct misconceptions, and review prior knowledge.
Target Audience: K-5
What’s included:
- Activity 1 (Grades K-5): Sports Play Algorithms – In this activity, students explore how sports plays are like computer instructions (algorithms)! They’ll watch a fun sports clip, learn how to break a play into smaller parts (just like programmers do!), and then create their own play using step-by-step directions.
- Activity 2 (Grades K-5): Dynamic Warm-up Algorithm Stations – In this activity, students rotate through a dynamic warm-up station that incorporates elementary computer science concepts—such as algorithms, sequencing, and conditionals. Teachers are encouraged to mix and match CS concepts with any station based on students’ grade level, reading ability, or familiarity with computer science.
- Activity 3 (Grades K-5): Simon Says – An Introduction to Conditionals – In this activity, the traditional game of Simon Says is remixed to practice conditionals (If, Then statements).
