Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Computer Science Discoveries Unit 3 Chapter 1 Lesson 2: Plotting Shapes (18-19)

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8

Overview

This lesson explores the challenges of communicating how to draw with shapes and uses a tool that introduces how this problem is approached in the Game Lab. The class uses a Game Lab tool to interactively place shapes on Game Lab's 400 by 400 grid. Partners then take turns instructing each other how to draw a hidden image using this tool, accounting for many of the challenges of programming in Game Lab.

Note: You will need to create a free account on code.org before you can view this resource.

    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

    DLCS18.6.2

    Define a process as a function.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.6.2

    Vocabulary

    • process
    • function

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • that often people seek to simplify processes; rather than listing all of the steps needed to take a shower, one simply uses the function "shower".

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • combine or join steps such as algorithms to create a function.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
      it is simpler and less confusing to identify processes rather than steps.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

    DLCS18.6.6

    Identify steps in developing solutions to complex problems using computational thinking.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.6.6

    Vocabulary

    • computational thinking

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • how to define the problem.
    • how to plan solutions.
    • how to implement a plan.
    • how to reflect on the results and process.
    • how to iterate through the process again.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • identify the steps involved with formulating problems and solutions in a way that can be represented or carried with or without a computer.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • computational thinking is formulating problems and solutions in a way that can be represented or carried out with or without a computer.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

    DLCS18.7.1

    Create a function to simplify a task.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.7.1

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • an algorithm is the set of commands to complete a task.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • combine several algorithms or tasks as a named function.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • it is more efficient to label an activity or program as a function than to list all of the individual steps or algorithms that make up the function or activity.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

    DLCS18.7.5

    Solve a complex problem using computational thinking.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.7.5

    Vocabulary

    • computational thinking

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • smaller tasks are easier to solve than complex problems.
    • that trends in data can also speed up the problem-solving process.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • abstract portions of the problem and focus on smaller tasks to aid in solving a complex problem.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • complex problems can be overwhelming.
    • by decomposing the complex problem into simpler problems, a solution is easier to reach.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

    DLCS18.8.5

    Discuss the efficiency of an algorithm or technology used to solve complex problems.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.8.5

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • that many solutions exist to solve a problem.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • communicate their opinion on the efficiency of problem solving methods.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • while many solutions exist for a problem, some are better suited to meet specific needs, such as efficiency.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    Code.org
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
    ALSDE LOGO