Computer science fundamentals
About this lesson
Computer science fundamentals is a series of lesson plans by Code.org, for teaching computer science to primary students with and without computers. This curriculum provides a teacher guidebook for implementing lessons, with learning and teaching activities, content, printable worksheets and some assessment lessons.
Year band: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Curriculum LinksCurriculum Links
Years F–2
Recognise and explore digital systems (hardware and software components) for a purpose (ACTDIK001)
Recognise and explore patterns in data and represent data as pictures, symbols and diagrams (ACTDIK002)
Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve simple problems (ACTDIP004)
Explore how people safely use common information systems to meet information, communication and recreation needs (ACTDIP005)
Create and organise ideas and information using information systems independently and with others, and share these with known people in safe online environments (ACTDIP006)
Years 3–4
Identify and explore a range of digital systems with peripheral devices for different purposes, and transmit different types of data (ACTDIK007)
Recognise different types of data and explore how the same data can be represented in different ways (ACTDIK008)
Define simple problems, and describe and follow a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve them (ACTDIP010)
Implement simple digital solutions as visual programs with algorithms involving branching (decisions) and user input (ACTDIP011)
Plan, create and communicate ideas and information independently and with others, applying agreed ethical and social protocols (ACTDIP013)
Years 5–6
Examine the main components of common digital systems and how they may connect together to form networks to transmit data (ACTDIK014)
Examine how whole numbers are used to represent all data in digital systems (ACTDIK015)
Define problems in terms of data and functional requirements drawing on previously solved problems (ACTDIP017)
Design, modify and follow simple algorithms involving sequences of steps, branching, and iteration (repetition) (ACTDIP019)
Implement digital solutions as simple visual programs involving branching, iteration (repetition), and user input (ACTDIP020)
Plan, create and communicate ideas and information, including collaboratively online, applying agreed ethical, social and technical protocols (ACTDIP022)
Learning sequence
Description
The curriculum includes online learning modules and unplugged lessons, covering various topics within computer science, including:
- algorithms
- data abstraction computing practice and programming
- computers and communication
- devices (elements of computing devices and networks)
- community, global, and ethical impacts.
Teachers can enrol their class in the online Code.org curriculum and view data about individual performance and progress in programming within each of the topics and for programming constructs (eg branching, iteration, sequences).
Alternatively or additionally, teachers can implement the unplugged curriculum, for which there are lesson plans. Some of the topics also include assessment activities and worksheets. There is a teacher’s guide and student workbook available for teachers to download. This guide also includes advice for teachers on how to facilitate learning activities and questions that can be asked to scaffold students and elicit information about their understanding.
Guidance For Use
Teachers can select and choose lessons that align with the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies, or they can undertake a more comprehensive pathway through the modules.Although not mapped to the curriculum, these lessons can support the learning and teaching, and assessment, of a number of content descriptions across the F–6 bands.
Some of the assessment activities could be used within the context of other learning areas. For example, the assessment activity for networks could support assessment from a different learning activity.