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Elementary Coding 4-5

While there is no explicit coding curriculum in place until Grade 6 ADST, earlier elementary grades are ideal places to begin the exploration of coding and computational thinking concepts. One easy way to start is by identifying areas of your existing curriculum where Computational Thinking already exist.

Computational Thinking

Computational thinking is recognized as a key skill set for all 21st century learners – whether they intend to continue with Computing Science or not,  it’s an important skill to identify and often exists within existing curriculum and classroom assignments. These can be grouped into four main areas:

  1. seeing a problem and its solution at many levels of detail (abstraction)
  2. thinking about tasks as a series of steps (algorithms)
  3. understanding that solving a large problem will involve breaking it down into a set of smaller problems (decomposition)
  4. appreciating that a new problem is likely to be related to other problems the learner has already solved (pattern recognition)

Read more about Computational Thinking here

4-5 Goal: Develop an understanding of all four computational thinking skills and their application in cross-curricular areas.

Grade 4-5 Coding Resources

The following was purchased for every elementary school:

Coding for Beginners Using Scratch

J’apprends à programmer avec Scratch (dual track schools only)

J’apprends à coder avec Scratch (dual track schools only)

Scratch Coding Cards

Scratch Challenge Workbook

Computational Thinking and Coding for Every Student

No Fear Coding: Computational Thinking Across the K-5 Curriculum

Suggested instructional pathways

CS Unplugged – Offline, non-technology based lessons and resources to teach computational thinking skills.

Unplugged Lesson Plans

Unplugged Lesson 1Sorting Algorithms

Unplugged Lesson 2:The Turing Test

Kids and Coding: Resources for Educators


Scratch – Scratch is the world’s most popular and widely supported block-based programming tool. It’s available as a software download or a web-based program that will run on our SD61 Chromebooks

It is strongly recommended that teachers create a teacher account for scratch, and create the student accounts with passwords under an agreed anonymous convention.

Scratch Cheat Sheets – Quick reference guide for using Scratch
Guide to all Scratch BlocksScratch Coding Blocks (English) – Printable coding blocks to reinforce the tools and sequences within the Scratch software.
Scratch Coding Blocks (French) – Blocs de codage imprimables pour renforcer les outils et les séquences du Scratch.
Scratch Cards (Full set PDF)
Scratch for Educators Website
Coding Games in Scratch Book
Scratch Challenges
Scratch Worksheets 

Scratch E-Textbooks

Creative Computing with Scratch – Learner Workbook

Creative Computing with Scratch – Educator Guide

Creative Computing with Scratch – Video Support Guides

Informatique Créative avec Scratch – Guide de l’Enseignant

 

Getting Started with Scratch – Teacher Guide

Getting Started with Scratch – Student Guide

Bien Commencer avec Scratch – Livret de l’Enseignant

Bien Commencer aver Scratch – Livret de l’Etudiant

 

Coding Quest (Grades 4-6)

Please visit The Learning Partnership , to make an account and use the following enrolment keys:

The enrolment key for Coding Quest is CQON21

Then you will need to request a teacher account on this page – Scratch for Educators

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