TryEngineering
Arduino Blink Challenge
Who knew turning a light on and off could be so complicated? In the lesson plan, pupils use Arduino boards to learn about computer codes and programs. They program an Arduino to make a light turn on and off at certain time intervals.
Microsoft
Conditionals
The conditions are ripe to learn about conditionals. Young computer scientists consider conditionals in their daily lives, then apply their knowledge to computer coding. The fifth of nine parts in the Intro to CS with MakeCode uses...
Code.org
Looping and Simulation
Young computer scientists continue programming with while loops by creating a program to simulate coins flipping.
Code.org
Introduction to Digital Assistant Project
How does a computer recognize voice commands? Scholars learn about digital assistants and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms in the ninth lesson of the series. They begin building a simple digital assistant and work on this...
Curated OER
Journal Writing
Students creatively utilize a word processor in order to do daily journal writing. They explore with using simple, compound, and complex sentences in order to present ideas with clarity and precision. They gain computer skills while...
Curated OER
Nahuatl Culture
Middle schoolers read stories, look at maps, and write journal entries to learn about the language and artwork of Nahuatl culture. In this Nahuatl culture lesson plan, students research the Nahuatl culture and present their findings.
Beauty and Joy of Computing
Building Your Own Blocks
Isn't building with blocks an activity for toddlers? The third lab of a five-part unit teaches young computer scientists how to create their own block instructions for programming. They use these blocks to create geometric figures, spell...
Code.org
Introducing Design Mode
Move beyond buttons when designing user interfaces. In the fourth installment of a 21-part unit, young computer scientists learn to apply design mode, which gives users options for colors, fonts, etc. They learn to incorporate these...
TryEngineering
Circuits and Boolean Expressions
Teach basic logic using Boolean operators. Young computer scientists learn about the operators NOT, AND, and OR, and how they can be expressed using Boolean notation, logic gates, or truth tables. Along the way, they learn about half...
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark
Fifth graders use the Internet to research a topic. In this expeditions lesson, 5th graders answer questions about Lewis and Clark based on the movie they watched previously, use the Internet to research Lewis and Clark, write a journal...
Curated OER
Reflective Journaling
Students write to influence positive change. In this service learning instructional activity, students reflect on their service learning experiences as they journal about sharing their time, talent, and treasures. Students share their...
Curated OER
Creative Writing/Historical Journals
Students write series of journal entries, from the perspective of an immigrant traveling to America via Ellis Island.
Have Fun Teaching
12 Months of Daily Journal Prompts
Imagine a packet of 365 colorfully illustrated journal prompt templates, grouped by month, that recognize themes, holidays, and events. Here 'tis, imagine that.
Curated OER
Student Opinion: What Do You Read, and How Do You Read It?
Stimulate discussion with this brief article and series of questions related to reading habits. This resource, from the New York Times' The Learning Network, asks learners to comment on their own reading habits. You could have your class...
TryEngineering
Sorting Socks is Algorithm Complexity
Use hosiery to teach computer science. Scholars use socks to develop a set of algorithms. They find ways to find a particular sock from a set and ways to sort socks. Finally, they use their algorithms to consider time complexity.
Curated OER
September Journal Prompts
In this September journal prompts worksheet, 4th graders cut out the cards, one for each day of the month, then use them as writing prompts for a daily journal.
Curated OER
Be Specific, Go West To The Pacific
Fifth and sixth graders follow Lewis and Clark from St. Louis to the Pacific and back again. They read online journal entries made by Lewis and Clark to gather information. The official Lewis and Clark website is used by learners to...
Code.org
While Loops
Bring your pupils in the loop with while loops. Scholars learn how to modify conditional statements to produce while loops in the 14th lesson of the series. They use flowcharts to understand loops and then program some examples of loops.
Curated OER
Introduction Lesson to the Book Where the Red Fern Grows
An excellent lesson plan on the classic book, Where the Red Fern Grows. Learners view the W. Wilson Rawls website and engage in a series of activities generated by the website. They write in their reflective journals, watch a video, and...
American Immigration Law Foundation
An Immigrant’s Experience
After interviewing an immigrant about their voyage to the United States and first impressions of the country, young learners create a fictional series of journal entries and design an iMovie depicting their interviewee's story.
Curated OER
Blogging
A fun, modern twist on journaling! Instead of responding to prompts in their composition notebook, writers use the Internet to complete blog entries. A sample blog (with prompts) is shown here, and writers are assessed on conventions and...
Curated OER
Immigration Project
Students visit Ellis Island Immigration Museum (as a field trip or a virtual visit) and pretend to be Italian immigrants to the United States. They write a journal entry detailing their first week in the United States. They interview an...
EduGAINs
Data Management
Using a carousel activity, class members gain an understanding of the idea of inferences by using pictures then connecting them to mathematics. Groups discuss their individual problems prior to sharing them with the entire class. The...
NYSU
Understand a Fraction as a Number on a Number Line
Piece by piece young scholars build a basic understanding of fractions in a Common Core-designed elementary math lesson. Through a series of hands-on activities and journaling exercises, and with the help of multiple online resources,...