Sequence of Lessons
Introduce: Parallelism Blue Level: Unit 1, Lesson 1
Lesson Overview
Students will be introduced to the computer science concept of parallelism through plugged and unplugged activities. A variety of activities are included below to provide the teacher with choice around best supporting their students' comprehension of this concept.
View the Lesson Plan
Agenda
- βοΈ Introduce: Use the pages in the Blue Workbook to introduce students to parallelism. (5-10 min.)
- π€ Engage: Select from the activities below to engage students in learning about parallelism and what they do in computer programs. (35-50 min.)
- π Reflect: (5 min.)
- How to explain parallelism to a friend?
- Can you think of any way Parallelism is used in real life?
Materials
- varies, based on the activities selected from below
- Blue Level Student Workbooks, p. 4-5
Unplugged Activity:
Learn about parallelism using this unplugged activity.
Parallelism in Scratch:
- Butterflies (single project)
- Getting Unstack Parallelism (studio of projects)
- Parallelism Project page
Vocabulary
- parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time
Standards
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.18 Perform different roles when collaborating with peers during the design, implementation, and review stages of program development.
Explore: Parallelism Blue Level: Unit 1, Lesson 2
Lesson Overview
Students will be introduced to the computer science concept of parallelism through plugged and unplugged activities. A variety of activities are included below to provide the teacher with choice around best supporting their students' comprehension of this concept.
View the Lesson Plan
Agenda
- βοΈ Introduce: Use the pages in the Blue Workbook to introduce students to parallelism. (5-10 min.)
- π€ Engage: Select from the activities below to engage students in learning about parallelism and what they do in computer programs. (35-50 min.)
- π Reflect: (5 min.)
- How to explain parallelism to a friend?
- Can you think of any way Parallelism is used in real life?
Materials
- varies, based on the activities selected from below
- Blue Level Student Workbooks, p. 4-5
- English / Spanish
Unplugged Activity:
Learn about parallelism using this unplugged activity.
Parallelism in Scratch:
- Butterflies (single project)
- Getting Unstack Parallelism (studio of projects)
- Parallelism Project page
Vocabulary
parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time
Standards
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.18 Perform different roles when collaborating with peers during the design, implementation, and review stages of program development.
Plan: Parallelism Blue Level: Unit 1, Lesson 3
Lesson Overview
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Students will begin the creation of a Greeting Card project in Scratch that will show their understanding of parallelism.
In this first lesson of a three lesson sequence, students will plan out their Greeting Card project on paper using a planning guide, then begin building their project using Scratch.
Agenda
- βοΈ Introduce: Greeting Card projects in Scratch (5 min.)
- π₯ Mini-Lesson: Initialization and Parallelism in Scratch (5 min.)
- π Plan: Greeting Card project on paper (15-20 min.)
- π§ Build: Greeting Card project in Scratch (15-25 min.)
- π Reflect: (5 min.)
- How did the planning guide help you start your project in Scratch?
- What are you excited to add to your Greeting Card project next class?
Materials
- computing devices for all students
- Greeting Card Planning Guide, printed
- English / Spanish
- Blue Level Student Workbooks, pp. 4-5
- Greeting Card Scratch studio (teacher-created)
Scratch Project Resources
- Greeting Card starter projects: sprites & backdrops (no code) / exploded code
- Greeting Card example project: It's Your Birthday
Vocabulary
- event: an action that causes something to happen
- initialize: assign a starting point for an object
- parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time
Standards
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.
Additional Resources
- Scratch website: scratch.mit.edu
- Scratch Project Student Checklist
- Getting Unstuck Strategies from the Creative Computing Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Build: Parallelism Blue Level: Unit 1, Lesson 4
Lesson Overview
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Students will continue the creation of a Greeting Card project in Scratch that will show their understanding of parallelism.
In this second lesson of a three lesson sequence, students will continue building their project using Scratch, then pause to provide feedback in small groups on each other's Greeting Card projects, using that feedback to revise and finalize their work.
Agenda
- π« Review: Using parallelism to create a Greeting Card project in Scratch (5 min.)
- π₯ Mini-Lesson: Initialization and Parallelism in Scratch (5 min.)
- π§ Build: Greeting Card project in Scratch (30-45 min.)
- π¬ Peer Feedback: Providing positive and constructive feedback on 2 peer projects (15 min.)
- π Reflect: (5 min.)
- What did you get stuck on while working on your project? How did you persevere?
- What did you learn from your classmates' projects feedback?
- What did you discover from looking at other projects?
Materials
- computing devices for all students
- Blue Level Student Workbooks, p. 5
- Peer Feedback organizer, printed
- Greeting Card Scratch studio (teacher-created)
Scratch Project Resources
- Greeting Card starter projects: sprites & backdrops (no code) / exploded code
- Greeting Card example project: It's Your Birthday
Vocabulary
- event: an action that causes something to happen
- initialize: assign a starting point for an object
- parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time
Standards
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.15 Use an iterative process to plan and develop a program by considering the perspectives and preferences of others.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.
Additional Resources
- Scratch website: scratch.mit.edu
- Scratch Project Student Checklist
- Peer Feedback Sentence Starters
- Getting Unstuck Strategies from the Creative Computing Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Showcase: Parallelism Blue Level: Unit 1, Lesson 5
Lesson Overview
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Students will complete the creation of a Greeting Card project in Scratch that will show their understanding of parallelism.
In this final lesson of a three lesson sequence, students will finish building their project using Scratch, participate in a showcase to share their project and view their classmates' projects, and use a rubric to reflect on their work.
Agenda
- π« Review: Show a few student works-in-progress to review the project scope (5 min.)
- π₯ Mini-Lesson: Initialization and Parallelism in Scratch: parallelism misconceptions (5 min.)
- π§ Build: Greeting Card project in Scratch (30 min.)
- πΌ Showcase: Use the 2 Stars and a Wish framework to support students providing feedback on others' projects (10-15 min.)
- β Self-Assessment/Reflect: Use the student rubric to promote self-assessment and reflection on the Greeting Card project (5-10 min.)
Materials
- computing devices for all students
- Blue Level Student Workbooks, p. 5
- student rubrics, printed
- English / Spanish
- project reflection guide, printed (optional)
- Greeting Card Scratch studio (teacher-created)
Vocabulary
- event: an action that causes something to happen
- initialize: assign a starting point for an object
- parallelism: sets of instructions that run at the same time
Standards
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.13 Decompose problems into smaller, manageable tasks which may themselves be decomposed.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.15 Use an iterative process to plan and develop a program by considering the perspectives and preferences of others.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.
- CA CSS 3-5.AP.19 Describe choices made during program development using code comments, presentations, and demonstrations.
Additional Resources
This page was last updated on December 11, 2023