An Unusual Discovery

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

English Language Arts
Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

3, 4, 5

Overview

An Unusual Discovery is designed to be completed within 45-75 minutes. Students watch a series of videos to create a coding project. Students personalize their project using mini-coding challenges called "add-ons.”

In this activity, students will sequence dialogue to tell a story. They animate interactions between characters, their backdrops, and a surprising object. This activity introduces students to computer science and the programming language Scratch. Students will use different Scratch blocks to create their own unique stories.

By selecting add-on videos that present coding challenges, students will:
- Use event blocks (like “when flag clicked”) to trigger a series of code.
- Sequence at least 3 “say” blocks between two sprites (characters) to construct a dialogue.
- Program a conditional so that the computer can make a decision based on user response.
- Produce repeated movements by applying control blocks to their program.

The teacher's resource can be accessed here and a lesson plan is available here. 

Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

DLCS18.3.7

Test and debug a given program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.

UP:DLCS18.3.7

Vocabulary

  • test
  • debug
  • program
  • block-based visual programming environment
  • arithmetic operators
  • conditionals
  • repetition

Knowledge

Students know:
  • strategies for debugging a given program.
  • arithmetic operators create a single numerical solution from multiple oprations.
  • conditionals are "if, then" statements that direct the program.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • test a given program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.
  • debug a given program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • a given program must be tested and debugged to run correctly.
  • block-based visual programming uses arithemetic operators, conditionals, and repetition to function.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 4

DLCS18.4.7

Create a working program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.

UP:DLCS18.4.7

Vocabulary

  • program
  • block-based visual programming environment
  • arithmetic operators
  • conditionals
  • repetition

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the definitions for arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition as they relate to programming.
  • strategies for collaborating with peers.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • create a working program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs.
  • implement strategies to collaborate with others.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • operators in programming make many options available, reducing the length of an alorithm, pseudocode, or program.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 5

DLCS18.5.6

Create a working program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs.

UP:DLCS18.5.6

Vocabulary

  • program
  • block-based visual programming
  • environment
  • arithmetic operators
  • conditionals
  • repetition

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to create a working program in a block-based visual programming environment.
  • reasons for using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • create a working program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs make more operations possible and can reduce the complexity or length of code.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 3

ELA21.3.33

Write personal or fictional narratives with a logical plot (sequence of events), characters, transitions, and a sense of closure.

UP:ELA21.3.33

Vocabulary

  • Personal narrative
  • Fictional narrative
  • Logical plot
  • Sequence of events
  • Characters
  • Transitions
  • Closure

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • A personal narrative tells about an event that was personally experienced by the author, while a fictional narrative tells a made up story.
  • A narrative story describes a sequence of events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end) and provides a sense of closure as an ending.
  • A narrative story describes the actions, thoughts, and feelings of the characters.
  • Narrative transitions indicate when and where the story is occurring.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
  • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of events and details that describe how the characters feels, acts, and thinks.
  • Use appropriate transitions in narrative writing.
  • Write a narrative that ends with a sense of closure.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and an ending that provides the reader with a sense of closure.
  • Because narrative writing describes a chronological sequence of events, it includes transitions that indicate the time and place in which the story is occurring.
  • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 4

ELA21.4.35

Write personal or fictional narratives using a logical plot, transitional words and phrases, sensory details, and dialogue, and providing a sense of closure.

UP:ELA21.4.35

Vocabulary

  • Personal narratives
  • Fictional narratives
  • Logical plot
  • Transitional words and phrases
  • Sensory details
  • Dialogue
  • Closure

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • A personal narrative tells about an event that was personally experienced by the author, while a fictional narrative tells a made up story.
  • A narrative story describes a sequence of events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end) and provides a sense of closure as an ending.
  • Narrative transitions indicate when and where the story is occurring.
  • Sensory details use descriptions of the five senses.
  • Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
  • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of events and sensory details.
  • Use appropriate transitional words and phrases in narrative writing.
  • Include dialogue in narrative writing.
  • Write a narrative that ends with a sense of closure.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and an ending that provides the reader with a sense of closure.
  • Because narrative writing describes a chronological sequence of events, it includes transitions that indicate the time and place in which the story is occurring.
  • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 5

ELA21.5.34

Write personal or fictional narratives incorporating literary elements (characters, plot, setting, conflict), dialogue, strong voice, and clear event sequences.

UP:ELA21.5.34

Vocabulary

  • Personal narratives
  • Fictional narratives
  • Literary elements
  • Characters
  • Plot
  • Setting
  • Conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Voice
  • Event sequences

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • A personal narrative tells about an event that was personally experienced by the author, while a fictional narrative tells a made-up story.
  • A narrative story describes a sequence of plot events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end).
  • Narrative writing includes text elements, like characters, setting, and conflict.
  • Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters in a text.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
  • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of plot events.
  • Incorporate literary elements into their narrative writing, like characters, setting, and conflict.
  • Include dialogue in narrative writing.
  • Use a strong voice in writing by developing a personal writing style.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and characters, setting, and conflict.
  • Incorporating dialogue between the characters can add details to their narrative writing.
  • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.
ELA21.3.33
ELA21.4.35
ELA21.5.34

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

Google CS First

License Type

Custom
https://csfirst.withgoogle.com/c/cs-first/en/an-unusual-discovery/an-unusual-di…

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.google.com/policies/terms/

Comments or Notes

CS First is a free resource.  Teachers and students will need to create a free account to use the available lessons.

Approved Date

ALSDE LOGO

This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Alabama Learning Exchange © 2002-2023 by Alabama State Department of Education is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Design by Adaptive Theme