Experimenting with Coding
Lesson Plan
Gaby, Isabella, Katie, and I put together a lesson plan for fourth graders involving using coding to navigate a robot throughout the classroom. We wanted to find a way to incorporate the algorithm aspect of computational thinking, first. The goal was the have the lesson involve an "unplugged" activity prior to using the technology. To do this, we arranged for the students to write out the directions they would give a robot to go from the opposite corner of the classroom and through the door. This activity gets students into a computational thinking state of mind. The following day, they would get to explore the functions of the robot and become familiar with using the coding program to move it. In groups of four, they would adapt their written directions into code that the robot can follow. A major element of this project is trial and error. They would try combinations of code until the robot completes the path and goes through the door. Adapting the written directions to code involves abstraction and decomposition. Overall, the students get a chance to experiment with computational thinking through algorithms, decomposition, and abstraction. To display their understanding, students would present their robots on the final day and reflect on the process of creating a code that would get the robot from the opposite corner of the classroom through the door.
Gaby, Isabella, Katie, and I put together a lesson plan for fourth graders involving using coding to navigate a robot throughout the classroom. We wanted to find a way to incorporate the algorithm aspect of computational thinking, first. The goal was the have the lesson involve an "unplugged" activity prior to using the technology. To do this, we arranged for the students to write out the directions they would give a robot to go from the opposite corner of the classroom and through the door. This activity gets students into a computational thinking state of mind. The following day, they would get to explore the functions of the robot and become familiar with using the coding program to move it. In groups of four, they would adapt their written directions into code that the robot can follow. A major element of this project is trial and error. They would try combinations of code until the robot completes the path and goes through the door. Adapting the written directions to code involves abstraction and decomposition. Overall, the students get a chance to experiment with computational thinking through algorithms, decomposition, and abstraction. To display their understanding, students would present their robots on the final day and reflect on the process of creating a code that would get the robot from the opposite corner of the classroom through the door.
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Learn about my experience learning some coding elements in this video. Below are some of the things I made and worked on after learning about coding. Using blocks and coding, I was able to make this little animated Google logo and add some effects to my name using code.org/learn. |
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