Lesson Ideas

Collections of Ideas by Grade Level:

For Elementary School and Up:

• AI4K12: site with multiple ideas, grades K-12

• Code.org’s CS Fundamentals Lesson Ideas: unplugged, with a computer

• The Hello Ruby Series comes with several embedded ideas for younger children that would best be done with an adult to be sure vocabulary is being practiced

• This CS4ALL Blueprint has a collection of ideas for multiple grade levels

• VR2LTch.com: site with ideas for teachers to help PreK and Kindergarten students learn the basics of computer science

For Middle School and Up: 

• AI4K12: site with multiple ideas, grades K-12

• MIT’s AIk12 Site: resources, research, and publications

• CART Summer Camp: lesson Ideas developed by teachers in Fresno Unified School District, California

• Code.org’s CS Discoveries was created as a standalone course to teach the fundamentals of CS to prepare students for high school CS coursework.

• Cybersecurity Guide

• The CS Unplugged Series has recommendations for upper elementary, middle and high school students.  With these activities, all you need is paper, pencil, and an imagination to see how you are using these items to simulate how a computer really works.

• techguide.org provides detailed information for students who are considering technology-focused careers

• EV3 Programming Lesson Ideas

  • Lego.com Main Site Starting Tutorials

  • Site is called “EV3 Lessons” - lesson ideas range from beginner to advanced 

For Integration:

• AI for Social Good resources about AI and impact of CS

• CS First - this site explains overlap between multiple subject areas.  CS First is free and integrates nicely with Google Classroom.  It is the perfect way for ES or MS teachers to experiment with integrating small amounts of CS into their classes!  Here is a link to learn more.

• Hour of Code Activities are organized by topic and grade level

• Link to Google drive folder with ideas, organized by subject

• Scratch Jr works well for grades 2 and up

• Scratch and Pencil Code are great sites for students grades 4 and up to use code to tell visual stories

• VidCode’s JavaScript 101

Want to learn more or prepare to teach an existing CS class?

• AP CS Principles Endorsed Providers for AP CS Principles

• BootUp - for grades K-5

• Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy - would help with integration in PreK-8 and specific courses in HS CS

• Code.org - for ES, MS, or HS

• CT CSTA Events Calendar

• GenCyber - perfect for MS or HS Cybersecurity information

• Google Apps Script tutorial - make your Google tools smarter

• Learn.Unity.com - used in Game & Web Design

• Raspberry Pi - project ideas; learn while doing

• AP Workshops for AP CS Principles or AP CS A