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Programmer's Paradise

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(based on 22 reviews)

Computer Science resources for KS3-4, with a focus on programming. Programming resources include Scratch, Microbit, Small Basic and Visual Basic for now, with other languages potentially in the future, such as C#. I have worked with the AQA specification throughout my teaching career and so these resources will be suitable for anyone teaching the new AQA spec. Please review any resources, suggestions are welcome for improvements etc.

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Computer Science resources for KS3-4, with a focus on programming. Programming resources include Scratch, Microbit, Small Basic and Visual Basic for now, with other languages potentially in the future, such as C#. I have worked with the AQA specification throughout my teaching career and so these resources will be suitable for anyone teaching the new AQA spec. Please review any resources, suggestions are welcome for improvements etc.
KS2 Introduction to Scratch and algorithms
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 Introduction to Scratch and algorithms

(0)
Included in this resource is a PowerPoint presentation on Scratch, with an accompanying worksheet (can be used on the computers or printed). The lesson focuses on using Scratch and ends with introducing algorithms which is a key word that can be used going forward.
Small Basic Programming lesson bundle
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Small Basic Programming lesson bundle

3 Resources
Three separate lessons, covering variables, selection and iteration in Small Basic. Included are PowerPoints, programming tasks with full code, and links to bespoke Kahoot quizzes as well. Presentations include theory as well as code challenges. Help sheets and code snippets are also included to help students who might struggle with the programming tasks. 20% saving on price of all three lessons separately.
AQA GCSE Exam Style VB.NET Question and Powerpoint 1
MrHawes8MrHawes8

AQA GCSE Exam Style VB.NET Question and Powerpoint 1

(0)
This is the first in a series of eight VB.NET programming lessons/revision (based on AQA specification) that have helped my GCSE classes improve their long answer programming question technique. The lessons built up towards working with 2D arrays and functions in time for the exams. Included is the exam-style question, mark scheme and the powerpoint used to help deliver a lesson building up towards answering the longer code question. The powerpoint includes information about the specific code features as well as some warm up code questions. Some of the powerpoints include theory as well, for example arrays or string handling if necessary to answer the longer code question.
Exam style pseudocode questions (AQA)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Exam style pseudocode questions (AQA)

(0)
These questions are used to help students practice longer pseudocode questions that they will encounter in GCSE exams. The pseudocode style is based on AQA, and each question comes with a mark scheme showing where marks are scored. Again, this is based around AQA’s mark schemes (i.e. awarding marks for including selection, for example). This set contains 8 pseudocode questions and mark schemes for each. In separate uploads I have the powerpoint used in lessons to help deliver specific lessons which build up towards answering the longer pseudocode questions in this set. The order I used them (with the intent of increasing difficulty as we went along): 1 - Phone Bill Calculator 2 - Note Changer 3 - Swimming Pool 4 - Guessing Game 5 - Substring 6 - Sports Day 7 - Linear Search Array 8 - Inverting Image (2D array)
KS3 Scratch Space Intruders game tutorial
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS3 Scratch Space Intruders game tutorial

(0)
This resource includes a finished Space Invaders-style game made with Scratch, as well as a starter code version of the game and a tutorial/help sheet. This is intended for one lesson to help teach variables and subroutines. The finished version can be shown as a demonstration of how the game should work, then the students can be shown the starter code. This version does not work, and they will need to complete the tasks on the tutorial to get it working correctly. The tutorial includes screenshots of code snippets and explanations of how any why they work to get the game functioning correctly.
KS3 Scratch Game Project
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS3 Scratch Game Project

(0)
This resource is a set of instructions for KS3 students to create their own game. Ideally they will be at or near to finishing with Scratch before moving on to more complex programming languages. This is intended for the end of my KS3 Scratch Unit of work. Included is the Word document which details what they will need to include in their game (and what they might want to include), as well as an example game evaluation written in Powerpoint to make it easy for them to write about. There is also a skeleton evaluation which describes what they need to include in their evaluation. As the students can create their own game and need to write about how they have made it, this is likely to take a minimum of three lessons.
Exam Style VB.NET Questions (AQA GCSE)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Exam Style VB.NET Questions (AQA GCSE)

(0)
These questions are used to help students practice longer coding questions that they will encounter in GCSE exams. Where pseudocode is used, the style is based on AQA, and each question comes with a mark scheme showing where marks are scored. This set contains 8 pseudocode questions and mark schemes for each. In separate uploads I have the powerpoint used in lessons to help deliver specific lessons which build up towards answering the longer pseudocode questions in this set. The order I used them (with the intent of increasing difficulty as we went along): 1 - Phone Bill Calculator 2 - Note Changer 3 - Swimming Pool 4 - Guessing Game 5 - Substring and Functions 6 - Sports Day Function 7 - Linear Search Array 8 - Inverting Image (2D array)
KS2 / KS3 Scratch intermediate bundle
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 / KS3 Scratch intermediate bundle

7 Resources
This unit is designed to be used after the initial Scratch unit, and contains lessons on flowcharts, sequencing, selection, iteration, variables and subroutines. The games that will be made through this unit include: A chatbot A scrolling maze Falling Fruit game Breakout Rock, paper, scissors Following the flowcharts lesson, the students will complete the other lessons to create the above programs, and then finish with an assessment. The assessment says Y6 at the top as this was the year group I have used it with, but that is because my Y5s completed the introductory unit and so moved onto this in Y6. However, this could be used for KS2 or KS3, depending on programming and Scratch experience.
KS2 / KS3 Scratch Expert Bundle
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 / KS3 Scratch Expert Bundle

5 Resources
This bundle is the third in a series of Scratch units, intended for KS3 or possibly high ability KS2 students. The first two lessons include looking at flowcharts and creating an algorithm using a flowchart, which then feeds into creating the game in Scratch. The third lesson involves creating a slug trail maze, which draws on what they might have done previously in creating mazes and drawing with the pen tool. The fourth lesson is more in depth with a look at variables and iteration, creating an endless scrolling flying game. The fifth lesson involves debugging and coding a Space Invaders-style game using starter code. This task includes subroutines and is the hardest of the unit. The unit ends with a project (3+ lessons) where the students create their own game based on some loose instructions. They then write about how they have made their game using a template in Powerpoint.
AQA Pseudocode Exam Style Question and Powerpoint 3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

AQA Pseudocode Exam Style Question and Powerpoint 3

(0)
This is the third in a series of pseudocode lessons (based on AQA pseudocode) that have helped my GCSE classes improve their long answer pseudocode technique. The lessons built up towards working with 2D arrays etc in time for the exams. Included is the exam-style question, mark scheme and the powerpoint used to help deliver a lesson building up towards answering the longer pseudocode question. The powerpoint includes information about pseudocode as well as some warm up pseudocode questions. Some of the powerpoints include theory as well, for example arrays or string handling if necessary to answer the longer pseudocode question.
KOAS v2.01 Teacher Planner, Seating Plans and Timetable/Calendar
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KOAS v2.01 Teacher Planner, Seating Plans and Timetable/Calendar

(0)
The KOAS is a way of organising the life of a busy teacher - it was originally built to create seating plans, but now also includes sections for tracking student data, a markbook, homework submissions, lesson logs and a timetable and calendar page as well as individual sheets for each class you teach. v2.01 is massively improved over the original - this can be re-used year on year and the calendar feature is designed so that it can be customised to any academic year. Watch the videos to see how it works and how it has made me more organised and efficient when planning and teaching.
KS2 Scratch Maze game - selection and iteration
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 Scratch Maze game - selection and iteration

(0)
This resource includes a short PowerPoint presentation including a brief starter, a finished maze game with two levels and a tutorial. I usually show them the finished game, then begin a new program and show them how to create the maze sprite using the line tool, and moving the sprites (they should have covered this by now). I also show them how to get the program to know if they are touching the other sprites (maze or end of the level). Once they start to make their mazes I give them the tutorial (on computers or can be printed) so they have step-by-step instructions for making their game and help if they are stuck. This usually takes at least two lessons for them to have a finished maze game with two levels. Some students will customise the game further with added features suggested at the bottom of the tutorial.
KS2 / KS3 Scratch chatbot lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 / KS3 Scratch chatbot lesson

(0)
This resource is for students who have already completed an introductory unit of Scratch, or are older students who might be more familiar with programming. They will create a program on Scratch using sequencing and selection.
Microbit DIRT Reflection lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit DIRT Reflection lesson

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Included is a DIRT lesson following a microbit unit of work. Includes a fake Kahoot leaderboard to display top scores, and questions used to reinforce knowledge of the topic.
GCSE Brute Force Malware Programming Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Brute Force Malware Programming Lesson

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A programming lesson designed to help the students improve their programming skills, as well as learning about brute force attacks. The lesson begins with a research task and ends with a step-by-step activity to create a program that will guess a password that the user has entered. Included is the PowerPoint presentation, programming instructions for students, and the final code in a text file for the teacher.
GCSE Bitmap Image File Size Calculator Programming Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Bitmap Image File Size Calculator Programming Lesson

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This lesson is based around programming skills and knowledge, as the students work through the worksheet (on the computers is best a they can copy and paste code snippets into the other document). Once they have answered the questions on the worksheet they should also have the Bitmap Calculator Code document containing the code snippets required to create the program. Then they can go onto Visual Basic to write the program, and test it to see if it is working correctly. There are also a couple of extension tasks at the bottom of the worksheet. I have also included the final code that I used to demonstrate the program working at the start of the lesson, and the PowerPoint which I used to outline the task and give them instructions on how to complete the tasks.
Microbit Revision Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Revision Lesson

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This presentation is to be used for revising programming concepts such as variables, selection, iteration using the microbit. There are tasks included such as creating definitions, thinking about how to program a certain game and a Kahoot quiz (link included on the powerpoint).
Microbit Offline Programming Homework
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Offline Programming Homework

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This homework is intended for students to complete without having to use a computer (useful if they don't have one at home). The instructions are given on the left hand side of the sheet, and they can cut and stick the code blocks onto the right hand side. If students wish to complete on the computer then they can, and this also allows them to test their code to see if it works. Answers also included in the form of an image.
KS2-KS3 Scale Enlargement activity
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2-KS3 Scale Enlargement activity

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This worksheet is for students who have been working on scale enlargement. I have used this as a homework for high ability Year 6 students, who have worked on scale factors and centre of enlargement during lesson time. The PDF contains two pages - the final shape (Answers) is on the second page.