About this Course
This is a semester-long course targeted at middle school grades 6-8, as an introduction to Computer Science. The course is written for teachers who may have never taught computer science before. During this course, students will explore concepts in computer science through Microsoft MakeCode and Minecraft.
Scope & Sequence
1. Introduction and About
2. Events and Event-Driven Programming
- Overview: Events
- Unplugged: Events and Handlers
- Unplugged: Overly Complicated Machine
- Activity: Yellow Brick Road
- Activity: Sing a Song of Sixpence
- Activity: Last Stand
- Activity: The Linked Wall
- Independent Project
3. Coordinates
- Overview: Why Learn Coordinates?
- Unplugged: World landmarks
- Unplugged: Classroom Coordinates
- Activity: Create a Compass Rose
- Activity: Minecraft Moving Company
- Activity: Auto-farmer
- Independent Project
4. Variables
- Overview: What is a Variable?
- Unplugged: The Rhythm Robot
- Activity: Chicken Storm
- Activity: Arrow Counter
- Activity: Fall is in the Air
- Activity: Wordsmith
- Independent Project
5. Iteration
- Overview: Why learn iteration?
- Unplugged: Everyday Tasks
- Unplugged: Walk Around the House
- Activity: Introduction to the Agent
- Activity: Dance Dance Agent
- Activity: Help Agent Farmer
- Activity: One Block At a Time
- Independent Project
6. Conditionals
- Overview: Conditionals
- Unplugged: Silent Simon
- Activity: How Old Are You?
- Activity: Agent Tree Chopper
- Activity: All Mine!
- Activity: Pyramid
- Independent Project
7. Functions and Parameters
- Overview: Functions
- Unplugged: PB & J
- Activity: Leap of Faith Mini-Game
- Activity: Zombie Pig
- Activity: Burger
- Independent Project
8. Arrays
- Overview: Arrays
- Unplugged: Arrays in real life
- Unplugged: Bubble Sort
- Activity: We built a zoo
- Activity: Warp Belt
- Activity: Block by ID
- Independent Project
9. Artificial Intelligence
- Overview: Artificial Intelligence
- Unplugged: Paper AI
- Activity: Maze generation
- Activity: Maze pathfinding
- Activity: Tree Hunter
- Collaborative Independent Project: Build an AI