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
Article
History of Computing Science

History of Computing Science: Edvac

For Students 9th - 10th
EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) was an early computer that was one of the first to use the binary number system to represent information. This lecture is a brief presentation of the EDVAC.
Article
History of Computing Science

History of Computing Science: Eniac

For Students 9th - 10th
The ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer)was a large computer based on vacuum tubes and introduced in 1946. This lecture gives a brief presentation of the ENIAC.
Article
History of Computing Science

History of Computing Science: Basic & Other Languages

For Students 9th - 10th
There are many computer programming languages in use today. This lecture series presents a brief description of the progression of programming languages.
Article
History of Computing Science

History of Computing Science: The Altair

For Students 9th - 10th
The Altair 8800 was the first personal computer. This lecture series gives a brief description of the Altair 8800 and the impact it had on the computer industry.
Website
Other

D Green: The First Generation Computers

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the first generation computers, the Bendix G-15, and first generation technologies.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Computer Hardware Engineer

For Students 9th - 10th
Put your interest in computers into an investigation of the career of computer hardware engineer. If you want to improve the speed and function of your computer, this is your career. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Computer Software Engineer

For Students 6th - 9th
For those students interested in developing cool video game software for computer or those who enjoy applying their compter science skills to solve problems, a career as a computer software engineer might be worth examining. This Science...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Database Administrator

For Students 9th - 10th
With so much data gathered on the computer, someone needs to be able to organize it. That falls to the database administrator. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements needed to become a database administrator , as well as the...
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Network and Computer Security

For Students 9th - 10th
This MIT course on network and computer security covers topics such as security in multi-user distributed systems, cryptography, authentication, intrusion detection, and many other security topics.
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Multimedia Artist or Animator

For Students 9th - 10th
If you have an artistic bent combined with an interest in computer graphic design, the career of multimedia artist or animator might be something for you to consider. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements needed to become a...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Follow the Bouncing Ball: A Web Animation Project

For Students 6th - 8th
This project is a fun way to try your hand at programming and expand your knowledge of web design. You will learn how to create some simple animations, and perform tests and make measurements to help you create more realistic-looking...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Programming Nanor Gs in a Virtual World

For Students 9th - 10th
In this two week long project, you will design an assembly-language control program for the microprocessors of a colony of nano-organisms (NANORGs) in a virtual world. If you're up for a real programming challenge, this is the project...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Image Compression vs. Image Quality: Finding the Best Tradeoff

For Students 6th - 8th
In this project you'll learn about how digital image files are encoded, and compressed. You will also measure the quality of compressed and uncompressed images, which will give you important insights into the tradeoffs between file size...
Unit Plan
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Unit: Online Data Security

For Students 9th - 10th
Readings and practice problems about online data security.
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Science Careers: Mathematician

For Students 9th - 10th
Mathematicians work in many areas. Some are applied mathematicians, some theoretical, but all use mathematics as a way to figure things out by using deduction. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements needed to become a...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Science Careers: Math Teacher

For Students 9th - 10th
A love of mathematics and the ability to share this love is what it takes to be a math teacher. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements needed to become a math teacher, as well as the education and job description. Included...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Statistician

For Students 9th - 10th
Statistics is a fascinating subject and everyone loves to spout them, but a statistician really knows how to use statistics to answer real-life questions and make predictions based on mathematical data. This Science Buddies site lays out...
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Career Profile: Economist

For Students 9th - 10th
Economists deal with the distribution of resources and how that distribution affects the economy. This lays out the requirements needed to become an economist, as well as the education and job description. Included are interviews with...
Website
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Introduction to Software Engineering in Java

For Students 9th - 10th
This MIT course is an introduction to Java programming and software engineering. The focus is on developing high quality software that solves real problems.
Unit Plan
Tramline

A Desert Virtual Field Trip

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Travel with your students on a virtual field trip and explore the deserts of the world! This is site is interactive and informative.
Website
Tramline

Tramline: Salt Marshes Field Trip

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Travel with your students on a virtual field trip to learn about saltwater marshes!
PPT
Tramline

Tramline: Tornado Field Trip

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this virtual field trip students learn about the formation of tornadoes. Students also visit websites where they can research various types of information about tornadoes.
Unit Plan
Tramline

Virtual Field Trip: Volcanoes

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this virtual field trip find out about how volcanoes are formed and what kind of destruction can they cause. Discover how volcanoes affect our environment and where can you find active volcanoes on earth and on other planets.
Activity
Tramline

Tramline: Antarctica Field Trip

For Students 9th - 10th
"What are the native land mammals of Antarctica? Do you know what Nanatuks are? Did you realize that if you use rainfall as a measure, Antarctica is by definition a desert?" Find the answers to these questions and more in this...

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