Lesson Planning

Summer

  • Scratch Presentation and Group Activity (by Brandi Retasket from Hollister Middle School) helps set up a Scratch Education Account and implement Scratch in the classroom. Also included are ideas for Scratch activities, inspirational resources, Scratch tutorials, and examples of student work.
  • CODERS Bootcamp Presentation (by Dr. Iqbal from MSU) includes instructions for activities using Scratch, Micro:Bit, Cutebot, and Robot Dogs.
  • Introduction to Microbit Presentation and Lesson Plan (by Jennifer Jackson from Logan-Rogersville Elementary) provides an overview of all of the components that make up a Micro:Bit and includes instructions for students to sign up for MakeCode Classroom.
  • Family Involvement with Microbit Presentation (by Yolanda Salas, Waynesville Elementary) seeks to gain parental support and enthusiasm for their children learning to code, by making it accessible and fun with students expressing their creativity and learning via designing their own game, rules, and dice for a Family Game Night Activity.
  • Setting Up MakeCode Classroom and Using Cutebots (by Jennifer Jackson from Logan-Rogersville Elementary) helps teachers navigate Micro:Bit MakeCode Classroom, including information such as how to start a session for students in the platform and edit code if needed, how to access student code projects, how to use the dashboard, how to save activities, and tips on how to structure Micro:Bit lessons for students.
  • Career Connections Presentation (by Abbi Coy from Purdy Middle School) includes a PowerPoint links to videos and an activity that introduces students to a variety of computer science and coding careers.
  • XGO Robot Dog Presentation (by Abbi Coy from Purdy Middle School) introduces students to complex Robot Dog problems. Poses challenges for students to solve but does not provide answers. Instead, it encourages students to find their own by exploring the link on the final slide.
  • Computational Thinking Lesson Activity 1 and Activity 2 (by CODERS Staff) uses interlinking cubes and 3D figures to explore logical thinking using perspective.

Fall

August

  • Writing to Code has information about writing strategies to integrate into your CODERS lessons, and it has advice about successfully integrating these strategies. Use the resources in this module to help you successfully integrate writing into your coding lessons.
  • Career Connections will tell you about the importance of introducing students to careers in these fields. It has plenty of resources useful for lessons about these careers, and it even has two premade lessons you can use! Use the resources in this module to help you make CODERS career lessons.
  • Computational Thinking has several resources for teaching students to think like a computer. This module is a great place to start coding lessons because it shows students how computers process information, and writing code involves structuring information for a computer to process. Use these resources for standalone lessons or use them to introduce Block Coding and Scratch.

September

  • Block Coding Classroom Implementation (by Abbi Coy and Carrisa Willey from Purdy Middle School) shows how two teachers have used block coding and Micro:Bit in their classes.
  • Quick Start Guide (by Holly Neal and Brooke Remerscheid from Hollister Middle School) is a living document with teacher-made resources about Scratch and Micro:Bit.
  • Cross Curriculum Implementation (by Kali Howe and and Ashley Akins from Buffalo Middle School) shows how teachers have implemented CODERS lessons across the curriculum.

October

This month, you could choose one of the following lessons to apply the knowledge from the previous instruction. 

  • The Importance of an Engineering Notebook in a Coding Class (PowerPoint by John Moore from Neosho Middle School) outlines the practice, application, and effectiveness of engineering notebooks in coding classes.
  • Fun with Cutebots (Powerpoint by Jennifer [Jackson] Sandvos from Logan-Rogersville Intermediate School).
  • Block Coding features three presentations, two activities, and two recommended resources for additional help learning to code or use Scratch. The presentations serve as a guide to learning how to use scratch and implement the various components of block coding.
  • Micro:Bit has a lesson plan, a Mirco:Bit scavenger hunt, information on how to create a MakeCode classroom, and a presentation demonstrating the value of students learning to code. This module will help students understand Micro:Bit's capabilities by locating blocks, and then creating LED signs for different scenarios. It is recommended that you go through this module first before proceeding to Cutebot and Robot Dog Modules, as the Micro:Bit module provides the foundation for both of these modules.
  • Cutebot has a Cutebot instruction guide and two lessons you can use to challenge your students to program Cutebot. The instruction guide contains step-by-step instructions for programming most of Cutebot’s functions. The two lessons have Cutebot activities and information helpful for Cutebot assembly. Use the resources in this module to teach your students about coding with Cutebot.

November

This month you can teach any STEAM and Advanced Topics lesson. Here are some we recommend.

  • Robot Dog has resources useful for teaching students about Robot Dogs. It includes information on Robot Dog assembly, activation, and programming. This module also has sets of instructions for programming Robot Dog to do two complex tasks, hunt for treasure and alert about intruders. Use the resources in this module to teach your students about coding with Robot Dog.
  • Force, Motion, and Friction has one lesson about Force, Motion, and Friction. Because Cutebots can be programmed to measure friction, the resource in this module could help you design a lesson that follows a Cutebot lesson. You could also use this resource to teach a standalone physics lesson.
  • Bulbs, Batteries, and Wires has lessons for teaching students about electricity and wiring. You could use the resources in this module to help students advance the knowledge they gained in keyboard lessons, or you could use these materials to introduce students to electricity and wiring.
  • Using Drones in CODERS Classrooms (PowerPoint by Brook Remerscheid, Max Schuman, and Millie Thompson-Krug from Shell Knob Schools) shows how to use drones to teach.

Spring

Olympiad: A coding competition