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
Interactive
Google

Mary Poppins Returns

For Students 6th - 12th
Make Mary Poppins proud. Young computer scientists use block-based coding to create snowflake animations with a Mary Poppins theme. They learn how to apply sequences, actions, and loops in computer science.
Interactive
Google

Teacher Appreciation

For Students 6th - 12th
Show your teacher you care. Young scholars use the Blockly programming language to create a card for their teachers. Using variables, encapsulation, objects, and sequences helps advance their computer science knowledge at the same time.
Instructional Video11:53
Crash Course

Early Computing: Crash Course Computer Science #1

For Students 9th - 12th
A generation brought up with computers probably can't imagine a world without them. The first video in the series explains advances in early computing. From the abacus to tabulating machines, individuals see how computations were made...
Instructional Video13:36
Crash Course

Operating Systems: Crash Course Computer Science #18

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Can you multitask? Computers sure can. Young computer scientists learn about operating systems that connect software to hardware, such as device drivers. They also see how computers multitask and use dynamic memory allocation. 
Instructional Video10:36
Crash Course

Instructions and Programs: Crash Course Computer Science #8

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Scholars receive instruction on writing instructions as they learn how to develop computer programs in the eighth video of the series. Animations show how computers carry out these instructions and programs.
Instructional Video13:50
Crash Course

Integrated Circuits and Moore's Law: Crash Course Computer Science #17

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
See how computers overcame the "tyranny of numbers." Scholars watch the 17th video in a series to learn how integrated circuits replaced large numbers of discrete transistors, paving the way for smaller and less costly computers. The...
Instructional Video11:52
Crash Course

Educational Technology: Crash Course Computer Science #39

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Every minute, users upload 400 hours of video to YouTube, which is how the resource became available. From MOOCs to AI driven intelligent tutoring systems, an engaging video explains how technology has changed the world of education. It...
Instructional Video10:07
Crash Course

Boolean Logic and Logic Gates: Crash Course Computer Science #3

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Boolean logic just makes sense. A video teaches individuals about Boolean logic and its connection to the binary system. It shows how the operations NOT, AND, OR, and XOR are shown on electric circuits using transistors. 
Instructional Video11:10
Crash Course

How Computers Calculate—the ALU: Crash Course Computer Science # 5

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
ALU, what are you? Young computer scientists watch a video to learn about the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) in the fifth video of the series. They use logic gates to represent each component of this unit.
Instructional Video4:12
TED-Ed

Inside Your Computer

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Computers are amazingly powerful machines that we have come to take for granted. Starting with a simple click of the mouse, this animated video takes you on a trip through the inner workings of computers. Learn how programs allow the...
PPT
Curated OER

Computer Language

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
A thorough and engaging slideshow presentation discusses all things computer, from artificial intelligence programs to text messaging lingo. Computer science students will get a kick out of the examples for ELIZA, Otto Jesperson's...
Lesson Plan
Code.org

Controlling Memory with Variables

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Not all variables are created equal. Discover how variables in computer science are different from variables in math class. Scholars learn to work with variables in computer programming by developing a mental model for how variables...
Instructional Video10:46
Crash Course

Representing Numbers and Letters with Binary: Crash Course Computer Science #4

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Don't be afraid of this resource — it won't byte. The fourth video in the series focuses on binary numbers and how computers use bits and bytes to encode information. It also explains 32-bit and 64-bit computing systems.
Instructional Video12:17
Crash Course

Registers and RAM: Crash Course Computer Science #6

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Computers need to remember their addresses, too. Scholars learn about random access memory (RAM) by watching a video. They see how computers store memory and how circuits require memory addresses to access memory.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Science Quizzes: Technology Quiz

For Teachers 5th - 10th
In this technology science quiz worksheet, students respond to 20 short answer and true or false questions regarding computer science and innovations in technology.
Instructional Video10:04
Lifehacker

Programming! Learn the Basics of Coding, How to Pick a Language a Project, and More!

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Kick off an introductory computer science course with this exploration of computer programming basics. From variable types and writing statements in JavaScript to finding a web host and deploying a website, this resource provides...
Activity
Computer Science Unplugged

The Poor Cartographer—Graph Coloring

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Color the town red. Demonstrate the concept of graph theory with a task that involves determining the least number of colors needed to color a map so that neighboring countries are not represented by the same color. Pupils...
AP Test Prep
College Board

Object-Oriented Design

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Just jump in with both feet. To better teach Java, one must think Java. The College Board built document immerses teachers in object-oriented design by providing several resources for use. Resources include teaching strategies, design...
Instructional Video10:44
Crash Course

Electronic Computing: Crash Course Computer Science #2

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
What insect is the origin of the phrase computer bug? Scholars view a video to learn about the challenges with early computing efforts, including moths finding their way into mechanical relays. From vacuum tubes to transistors, the video...
Instructional Video11:38
Crash Course

The Central Processing Unit (CPU): Crash Course Computer Science #7

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Build your own CPU. A video shows how logic gates, the ALU, and RAM all combine to form the central processing unit of a computer. It explains the fetch, decode, and execute phases of the CPU. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphing on the Computer

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a bar graph on the computer using given information from the teacher. They create a bar graph using their own information chart (they need to create one on separate paper first). They utilize Microsoft Excel for this lesson.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Knowing Your Computer

For Students 6th - 8th
In this computers worksheet, students examine the eight parts of a computer and ask for adult help to define the functions of each piece of hardware.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Behind the Scenes of an ESL Classroom Part One

For Teachers Higher Ed
A computer science degree, a stack of textbooks, and a room full of English language learners is sure to bring excitement to one's day.
Organizer
Curated OER

Computers Organizing Files Worksheet

For Students 6th - 8th
Help young users organize their computer files with a practice worksheet. As they examine the listed document names, learners match them with the appropriate computer file.

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