Grade 4 Computational Thinker

Grade 4 Computational Thinker

Unit Overview

In the Computational Thinker unit students will develop the skills and attitudes necessary to become computational thinkers who can harness the power of computing to innovate and solve problems. Throughout the unit, students will utilize Scratch in addition to accessing the Internet through different online tools and resources to complete lesson activities.

Content Standards

Transfer

T2 Value change, uncertainty, and risk taking as opportunities to explore identity and refine solutions to problems.

T3 Work effectively with, and learn from, others in a variety of situations, in school and beyond.

T5 Exchange information effectively for varied audiences and purposes using appropriate formats.

Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions

Digital Citizen Enduring Understanding aligned to appropriate Essential Questions.
Enduring Understandings Essential Questions
U2 Computational thinking allows you to create solutions to solve real world problems in different ways.
  • How can I decompose a large problem into smaller manageable pieces?
  • What is the best way to represent this data?
  • What effects does automation have on society?
U3 Current and future careers require a fundamental understanding of computer science skills.
  • How are games being used to bring awareness to and possible solutions to societal problems?

Acquisition

Computational Thinker expected knowledge aligned with student skills. 
Students will know... Students will be skilled at...
1 How gaming is being used for social change. Explaining ways gaming can be used for social change or to solve problems.
2 A bug is a problem or error in the code. Explaining and demonstrating how to debug and fix code.
3 How to remix code in Scratch. Explaining and demonstrating how to remix code in Scratch to create a game.
4 How to refine code in Scratch. Explaining and demonstrating how to refine code in Scratch to include trivia questions.

Cornerstone Task

Cornerstone tasks provide students with an opportunity to create authentic products that are based on standards and connect to real-world careers.  Students will be empowered to create a product of lasting value by engaging in meaningful tasks facilitated by an educator. Each task will provide equity, differentiation, and student choice to allow students to reach milestones for success.

Assessment Evidence

Students will demonstrate their understanding of computational thinker concepts by demonstrating their pattern recognition skills in this cornerstone activity. In computational thinking, pattern recognition refers to looking for similarities or trends. Students will need to look for patterns within the computer code in order to edit and create code necessary for their maze game to run properly. Once students have completed the computer code, run their program, and fixed any issues, they will submit their project and be assessed on various aspects including having the sprite move around the maze, adding trivia questions, and adding an obstacle. Ultimately, students should be able to use completed code as a model to finish or fix similar code.

Performance Task

Computational Thinker Enduring Understandings aligned to Assessment Evidence.
Understandings/Skills Assessment Evidence

U2

Computational thinking allows you to create solutions to solve real world problems in different ways.

Students will use a variety of computational thinking skills including pattern recognition to create computer code for a maze activity. They will be given some code and use that to complete the program in which a sprite moves around a maze and the player answers trivia questions at various points of the maze.

U3

Current and future careers require a fundamental understanding of computer science skills.

Students will use block code, a foundation programming language, to create a maze activity. They will work through a series of lessons that build their coding skills to solve a variety of problems with the given computer code. Students will be required to complete a computer program for a maze activity in which a sprite moves around a maze and the player answers trivia questions at various points of the maze.

Curriculum Map

Lesson Seeds

Feedback

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Instructional Technology Feedback Form

Computational Thinking Resources

Computational Thinking Learning & Leadership

Integration Activities

Other Coding Activities

Intentional Supports For Access and Opportunity for Multilingual Learners

Native Language Supports

At the beginning of the year and with each newly arriving Multilingual Learners (MLs): 

  • Connect with the ESOL Teacher/s to obtain and discuss students’ English proficiency levels.
  • Determine with ESOL Teacher if individual students would benefit from native language support (reading/ listening to directions on Canvas) and obtain a list of students’ home languages from Synergy (grades 3-5 may benefit from reading option; K-5 may benefit from listening option) 
  • Arrange to show students how to set a Canvas page to their native language.
  • Ensure this feature is active when students are reading/listening when using Canvas. 

Throughout the year: 

  • Review native language support periodically and determine if students need or prefer to activate it (check with ESOL Teacher and students)

 

Instructional Accommodations

*This is not an exhaustive list

Sensory Support (Green)

  • Real-life objects (realia)
  • Manipulatives
  • Pictures & photographs
  • Illustrations & diagrams
  • Physical activities
  • Videos & films
  • Broadcasts
  • Tapping (manipulating the screen)

 

Graphic Support (Yellow)

  • Charts
  • Tables
  • Graphs
  • Timelines
  • Word Bank
  • Bilingual Dictionaries
  • Visuals
  • Graphic Organizers
  • Sentence Starters, Frames, 

Interactive Support (Red)

  • In pairs or partners
  • In triads or small groups
  • In whole group
  • Using cooperative group structures
  • Using the Internet or software programs
  • Jamboard/Pear Deck
  • In the native language 
  • With mentors/paras

Additional ML Support

General Resources

  This course content is offered under a  CC Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike Links to an external site. license. Content in this course can be considered under this license unless otherwise noted.