Computer Science Teacher Resources

Modern homes and classrooms are set up with any number of technological devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. And there is a strong possibility that your students already know how to navigate these devices and the online world they access. But do they understand the science that powers their digital lives?

Start young computer scientists with the basics of computer anatomy and functions, as well as a historical perspective of the personal computer. A helpful video on Alan Turing, whom many consider to be the father of computer science, can also fill in some blanks for students who can’t identify the ancestry behind their smartphones.

Extend your curriculum with a research project on Big Data and its role in learners’ lives. An informative presentation on computer language that focuses on top-down and bottom-up processing augments a programming class, as well as a project that inspires programmers to design a virtual card game.

But computer science doesn’t stop with computers! Apply the algorithms that power personal devices to everyday processes, like sorting socks or making peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. Learners can also create physical representations of binary numbers with egg cartons in a hands-on activity.

No matter what your computer science pupils need, we’ve got you covered with our teacher-curated resources at Lesson Planet!

Showing 1,120 resources
Website
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: History of Computing

For Students 9th - 10th
The Great Idea Finder offers a timeline of the history of computers. Each innovation and invention is also click-able for more information.
Website
PBS

Pbs Triumph of the Nerds: A History of the Computer

For Students 3rd - 8th
This companion website for acclaimed PBS series "Triumph of the Nerds" explores the history of the computer, tracing the progression of computing technologies from the abacus to the World Wide Web.
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Other

The Apple Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
The Apple Museum provides in depth information on the history of the Apple company and its products. Contributing to this information are articles written in reference to the company and/or its products. Code names, video clips, specs...
Article
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Ornl: First Generation Electronic Computers (1937 1953)

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains a short article on the first generation electronic computers. Very interesting information about the early computer industry.
Handout
Science Museum, London

Science Museum: Ada Lovelace

For Students 9th - 10th
Some say that Ada Lovelace was the first programmer because she wrote instructions for a computing device designed by Charles Babbage. This site presents a brief history of Ada's life and the important role she played in the history of...
Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 1031: Antikythera Mechanism

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains the history of and a description of the Antikythera Mechanism in written and audio form.
Audio
Science Friday Initiative

Science Friday: Hackers, 25 Years On

For Students 9th - 10th
An interview with Stephen Levy, who wrote a book called Hackers twenty-five years previously, to look at changes that have since taken place in the world of computers. Aired Jul. 16, 2010 [17:24 min]
Website
PBS

Pbs: Triumph of the Nerds

For Students 9th - 10th
This page is the companion website to the PBS television special, Triumph of the Nerds. Coverage includes a history of the computer, a who's who, and a television transcript.
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Other

The Digi Barn Computer Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
This site chronicles the innovations in computer technology including computer hardware, computer software and computer advertising.
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Other

Old Computers Rare, Vintage and Obsolete Computers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a listing of old computer hardware as well as old computer ads.
Handout
Other

Doug Engelbart's Invisible Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site chronicles, within the context of technological innovations, the achievements of Doug Engelbart who was involved in much of the information environment which we know today.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Understanding Computing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This lesson provides activities to demonstrate how "A pebble calculator works in a way similar to an abacus," which will allow learners to increase their understanding of how computers work. The lesson also provides discussion prompts...
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Columbia University

Columbia University: The Ibm 1401

For Students 9th - 10th
The IBM 1401 Data Processing System was IBM's first affordable general-purpose computer. It was introduced in 1959 and was IBM's first computer to sell over 10,000 units. This site describes the history of the 1401, the technology that...
Article
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Grace Murray Hopper

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides a biography of Grace Murray Hopper (1906-1992 CE), the noted mathematician, computer scientist, and military officer.
Audio
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Celebrating 20 Years of Mac

For Students 9th - 10th
NPR remembers the Macintosh, its launch in 1984, and its legacy over the last 20 years. View the famous "1984," commercial, listen to the entire audio program on "Talk of the Nation," and view a photogalley of the Mac.
Graphic
Columbia University

Columbia University Computing H Istory: Hollerith 1890 Census Tabulator

For Students 9th - 10th
Herman Hollerith's tabulating machine was a very important advancement on the historical timeline of computing devices. This site describes how the machine worked and the role that it played in the development of the computing devices...
Article
Harvard University

Harvard University: Howard Aiken: Makin' a Computer Wonder

For Students 9th - 10th
About Howard Aiken's mission to build the first programmable computer.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Altair 8800

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive encyclopedia article on the Altair 8800 from Wikipedia discusses how Ed Roberts came up with the idea to create a microcomputer design. Also discusses how, first, it was supposed to be a kit for hobbyists and turned into...
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Gary Kildall

For Students 9th - 10th
One-page profile of influential innovator, Gary Kildall, a pioneer in the computer age whose vision and ideas created the first disc operating system for a microcomputer.
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Other

Antikythera

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a description and images of the Antikythera Mechanism as well as an interactive animation of its functioning.
Handout
Other

Hewlett Packard Executive Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th
The executive biography of Bill Hewlett that is part of the Hewlett-Packard Company's web site.
Website
Other

The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This site includes images of the Antikythera Mechanism, a description of this device and modern-day recreations.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Sequential Search

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a brief definition of a sequential search in the context of computer science. A short example is also provided.
Article
BBC

Bbc Bitesize: Development and Testing: Alpha, Beta and Final Testing

For Students 6th - 9th
Learn about alpha, beta, and final testing for test cases in computer science.

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