SFUSD’s 3-5 Creative Computing Curriculum introduces computer science as a creative, collaborative, and engaging discipline to children in third through fifth grade.
Across 4 units and 15-20 lessons, students will learn about algorithms and programming, computing systems, the Internet, and impacts of computing, while developing strong practices and dispositions. Lessons are designed to be implemented in 45 to 60-minute periods approximately once per week.
In Unit 0, an introductory unit, students will begin their exploration of the Scratch programming platform. They will then learn about how computers work by exploring what is inside a computer and how they store data using binary code.
Sequence of Lessons
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Scratch
- Lesson 2: Introduction to Computer Science (optional)
In Unit 1, students will use a variety of tools to create algorithms and build programs focused on sequence and loops. They will first learn concepts with unplugged lessons, then practice those concepts in Code Studio. Students will extend their knowledge of those concepts by producing creative projects in Scratch. Along the way, students will also debug problematic programs, critique each other’s work, and reflect on their own progress.
Sequence of Lessons
- Lesson 3: Graph Paper Programming
- Lesson 4: What is a Sequence?
- Lesson 5: Step-by-Step
- Lesson 6: 10 Block Challenge & Debug It! Level 1
- Lesson 7: All About Loops
- Lesson 8: About Me Project
- Lesson 9: About Me Critique Group & Rubric (optional)
- Lesson 10: Debugging Loops (optional)
In Unit 2, students will learn about events and use them to control games, animations, and music in both Code Studio and Scratch. They will connect Makey Makey invention kits to their computing devices to physically control the event handlers in the programs they write. And along the way, students will also debug problematic programs, critique each other’s work, and reflect on their own progress.
Sequence of Lessons
- Lesson 11: The Big Event
- Lesson 12: Makey Makey Controllers
- Lesson 13: Build-a-Band
- Lesson 14: Animation: It’s Alive! & Scenes
- Lesson 15: Music Video Project
- Lesson 16: Music Video Critique Group and Rubric (optional)
- Lesson 17: Relay Programming (optional)
In Unit 3, students will use all of the programming skills they have learned in this course to create an interactive project that can be controlled with a Makey Makey. They will work together in small groups, first sketching out their plans and sharing their ideas with a critique group, then building their project in Scratch, and lastly presenting it to peers in a student showcase.
Sequence of Lessons
- Lesson 18: Final Project: Planning
- Lesson 19: Final Project: Building
- Lesson 20: Final Project: Showcase
Source and Attributions: All Images, Text and Content Created by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Computer Science team: CSinSF.org.