Coding Class!
How do computers know what to do? Can we talk to them? With coding, humans have the ability to read and write in a machine language that tells a computer, app, or program what you want it to do. Let’s try some activities that will introduce us to the fundamentals of coding.

Today’s Activities

Watch and write

Watch this video series about how computers work. Then, write about what you already knew and what you’ve learned.

Code breaker

Use your code-breaking skills to solve these addition problems.

Have you ever wondered how the barcode numbers on things you buy are created? Try this trick to be able to figure out any barcode’s last number, simply using your math facts!

One type of math-code is coordinate graphing. Use your coordinate graphing skills to answer these questions. (The answer key is included so you can check your work.)

Explain

Visit this site to try out as many Hour of Code tutorials as you’d like!

Try this site to learn more about computers without needing a computer. Here’s one activity you might like, “…the Parity Magic trick. You can read up how to do it, and make up a set of cards (they just need to have each side with a different marking; for example, you could cut up a cereal box into squares, with one side plain and the other with markings on it), then make sure you practice it on your own. Once you’ve got good at putting down the cards and spotting the incorrect one, try it out on someone else. Not only is it an impressive trick, but you’ve delved into a fundamental idea that underlies all the data that’s stored and transmitted between computers.”

Map it

Check out this infographic about coding from code.org’s website. Then, use your state-smarts to determine which states have created K-12 computer science standards and which have not. Find your state. Has it created K-12 computer science standards?

Dance!

“Loops” are repeated actions within a code. Did you know you use loops anytime you dance in a repeatable way? Watch this video on loops. Then, create your own dance using repeated actions or use the example in video and then build on it. Try to teach it to someone. Finally, try this super-fun dance (or any from GoNoodle.com) and, while you’re dancing along, see how many loops you can identify.

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More 5th Grade Lessons

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