3-5 Computer Science - Blue - Unit 2 Forever Loops

Sequence of Lessons

Introduce: Forever Loops Blue Level: Unit 2, Lesson 1

Lesson Overview

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Students will be introduced to the computer science concept of forever loops through plugged and unplugged activities. A variety of activities are included below to provide the teacher with choice around best supporting their students' comprehension of this concept.

Agenda

  1. ⭐️ Introduce: Use the pages in the Blue Workbook to introduce students to forever loops. (5-10 min.)
  2. πŸ€– Engage: Select from the activities below to engage students in learning about forever loops and what they do in computer programs. (35-50 min.)
  3. πŸ““ Reflect: (5 min.)
  4. Can you explain forever loops to a friend?
  5. Can you think of any way forever loops is used in real life?

Materials

  • varies, based on the activities selected from below
  • Blue Level Student Workbooks, p. 6
  • English / Spanish

Unplugged Activity:

Learn about forever loops using this unplugged activity.

Forever Loops in Scratch:

Forever Loops with Dash and Dot

  • Learn about forever loops using Dash and Dot robots with these Challenge Cards!

Forever Loops in Code Studio:

Vocabulary

  • loop: repeat a sequence of instructions

Standards

  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.18 Perform different roles when collaborating with peers during the design, implementation, and review stages of program development.
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Explore: Forever Loops Blue Level: Unit 2, Lesson 2

Lesson Overview

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Students will first use, then modify, a project exploring forever loops in Scratch using the TIPP & SEE model. This will provide students with another opportunity to tinker with this concept in Scratch before starting an open-ended project in the next lesson.

Agenda

  1. πŸ’« Review: Use the pages in the Blue Workbook to gain a deeper understanding of forever loops. (5-10 min.)
  2. πŸš€ Explore: TIPP & SEE Forever Loops: Dragon Boat Race Scratch activity (35-50 min.)
  3. πŸ““ Reflect: (5 min.)
  • How did the Dragon Boat race program help you understand forever loops in computer science?
  • How would you explain forever loops to another person?

Materials

  • computing devices for all students
  • Blue Level Student Workbooks, pp. 6-7
  • English / Spanish
  • TIPP & SEE Forever Loops: Dragon Boat Race

  • activity pages (slides 3 & 4)

  • Scratch project

Vocabulary

  • loop: repeat a sequence of instructions

Standards

  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.

Additional Resources

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Plan: Forever Loops Blue Level: Unit 2, Lesson 3

Lesson Overview

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Students will begin the creation of a Tour Guide project in Scratch that will show their understanding of forever loops. In this first lesson of a three lesson sequence, students will plan out their Tour Guide project on paper using a planning guide, then begin building their project using Scratch.

Agenda

  1. ⭐️ Introduce: Tour Guide projects in Scratch (5 min.)
  2. πŸ’₯ Mini-Lesson: Initialization in Scratch (5 min.)
  3. πŸ“ Plan: Tour Guide project on paper (15-20 min.)
  4. 🚧 Build: Tour Guide project in Scratch (15-25 min.)
  5. πŸ““ Reflect: (5 min.)
  • How did the planning guide help you start your project in Scratch?
  • What are you excited to add to your Tour Guide project next class?

Materials

  • computing devices for all students

  • Tour Guide Planning Guide, printed

  • Blue Level Student Workbooks, pp. 8-9

  • Tour Guide Scratch studio (teacher-created)

Scratch Project Resources

Vocabulary

  • copyright: a law that protects a creator's rights and requires other people to get permission to use, copy, and share their work
  • Creative Commons: a copyright license that makes it easier for people to copy, share, and build on other people's creative work, as long as they give credit to the creator
  • digital citizen: someone who acts safely, responsibly, and respectfully online
  • initialize: assign a starting point for an object
  • loop: repeat a sequence of instructions
  • parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time

Standards

  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.

Additional Resources

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Build: Forever Loops Blue Level: Unit 2, Lesson 4

Lesson Overview

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Students will continue the creation of a Tour Guide project in Scratch that will show their understanding of forever loops. In this second lesson of a three lesson sequence, students will continue building their project using Scratch, then pause to provide feedback in small groups on each other's Tour Guide projects, using that feedback to revise and finalize their work.

Agenda

  1. πŸ’« Review: Using images responsibly to create a Tour Guide project in Scratch (5 min.)
  2. πŸ’₯ Mini-Lesson: Using Images Responsibly in Scratch (5 min.)
  3. 🚧 Build: Tour Guide project in Scratch (30-45 min.)
  4. πŸ“¬ Peer Feedback: Providing positive and constructive feedback on 2 peer projects (15 min.)
  5. πŸ““ Reflect: (5 min.)
  • What did you get stuck on while working on your project? How did you persevere?
  • What did you learn from your classmates' projects feedback?
  • What did you discover from looking at other projects?

Materials

  • computing devices for all students

  • Blue Level Student Workbooks, pp. 8-9

  • Peer Feedback organizer, printed

  • Tour Guide Scratch studio (teacher-created)

Scratch Project Resources

Vocabulary

  • copyright: a law that protects a creator's rights and requires other people to get permission to use, copy, and share their work
  • Creative Commons: a copyright license that makes it easier for people to copy, share, and build on other people's creative work, as long as they give credit to the creator
  • digital citizen: someone who acts safely, responsibly, and respectfully online
  • initialize: assign a starting point for an object
  • loop: repeat a sequence of instructions
  • parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time

Standards

  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.15 Use an iterative process to plan and develop a program by considering the perspectives and preferences of others.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.

Additional Resources

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Showcase: Forever Loops Blue Level: Unit 2, Lesson 5

Lesson Overview

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Students will complete the creation of a Tour Guide project in Scratch that will show their understanding of repeat loops. In this final lesson of a three lesson sequence, students will finish building their project using Scratch, participate in a showcase to share their project and view their classmates' projects, and use a rubric to reflect on their work.

Agenda

  1. πŸ’« Review: Show a few student works-in-progress to review the project scope (5 min.)
  2. πŸ’₯ Mini-Lesson: Forever Loops in Scratch: forever loop misconceptions (5 min.)
  3. 🚧 Build: Tour Guide project in Scratch (30 min.)
  4. πŸ–Ό Showcase: Use the 2 Stars and a Wish framework to support students providing feedback on others' projects (10-15 min.)
  5. βœ… Self-Assessment/Reflect: Use the student rubric to promote self-assessment and reflection on the Tour Guide project (5-10 min.)

Materials

  • computing devices for all students

  • Blue Level Student Workbooks, pp. 8-9

  • student rubrics, printed

  • project reflection guide, printed (optional)

  • Tour Guide Scratch studio (teacher-created)

Vocabulary

  • copyright: a law that protects a creator's rights and requires other people to get permission to use, copy, and share their work
  • Creative Commons: a copyright license that makes it easier for people to copy, share, and build on other people's creative work, as long as they give credit to the creator
  • digital citizen: someone who acts safely, responsibly, and respectfully online
  • initialize: assign a starting point for an object
  • loop: repeat a sequence of instructions
  • parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time

Standards

  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.15 Use an iterative process to plan and develop a program by considering the perspectives and preferences of others.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.
  • CA CSS 3-5.AP.19 Describe choices made during program development using code comments, presentations, and demonstrations.

Additional Resources

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This page was last updated on December 18, 2023