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Programmer's Paradise

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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.

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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.
GCSE Sound File Size worksheets (A5)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Sound File Size worksheets (A5)

(7)
Two worksheets, the second harder than the first, which can be printed in A5 size. Suitable for GCSE students learning about sound and can build towards practice exam questions. Answers are included in a separate file.
GCSE Binary Addition and Shift Presentation
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Binary Addition and Shift Presentation

(3)
Included is a Powerpoint used to teach binary addition and shift to a mixed ability GCSE class. Includes lots of chances for students to practice the techniques with questions and follow up by writing notes on how to calculate the addition and shifts.
GCSE Arrays Introduction
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Arrays Introduction

(1)
A powerpoint introduction to arrays (GCSE) including why they are used, and a programming task at the end. Also included in this resource is the full code (Visual Basic) for all four tasks at the end of the presentation.
Small Basic Iteration programming lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Small Basic Iteration programming lesson

(1)
Included is a presentation on iteration using Small Basic. Includes some theory and programming tasks, including all of the code required, instruction sheets and code snippets useful for helping students who might otherwise struggle with programming. I have used this with multiple mixed ability Year 8 classes, who have all managed some success with programming. Also included at the end of the presentation is a link to a Kahoot quiz written specifically for this lesson. One of the early tasks involves changing the background colour of the graphics window. Be aware that if students play around with the timing then it could potentially affect students with epilepsy. I made sure that none of my students would be affected before planning this lesson.
Microbit Board Game Project
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Board Game Project

(1)
This resource was used for Year 7 Computing following a unit involving learning about variables, selection, iteration and random number generation using the Microbit. They loved playing the game, especially as they helped to create it! The idea is to have them use the Microbit as part of the board game. They will program in a dice function for shaking the Microbit, and other features for when they press Button A or B. The game works similarly to Snakes and Ladders. Button A moves the player either forwards or backwards, 6, 4, or 2 spaces (picked randomly by the program), and Button B moves the player up or down by flashing up to 3 up or down arrows (again randomly). Instructions were given via a worksheet, where the first page (two of the tasks) were given in the first lesson and the final one was given at the start of the second. When they had finished their program they could then download it to the Microbit and play their game. My students ended up with between 10-25 minutes playing time depending on how quickly they programmed their game. They can provide their own playing pieces from pencil cases etc. and the board is provided (A4 printout is fine). The code is in the screenshots in the PowerPoint slides and can be made up quickly.
GCSE Bubble Sort Programming Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Bubble Sort Programming Lesson

(1)
Included is a presentation reviewing the Bubble Sort method, and an interactive Excel activity that can is self-marking and can give students immediate feedback. There is also a help sheet for anyone who has missed the Bubble Sort theory or needs help with the activities, and differentiated instructions for writing a Bubble Sort program (I used Visual Basic but the code hints could be adapted to another language quickly). I have also included the lesson plan that I used for a lesson observation. There are notes on AfL and differentiation included in the plan.
Microbit Unit of Work
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Unit of Work

(1)
This Unit of Work includes 10 lessons worth of Microbit programming skills and knowledge. Each lesson has a PowerPoint presentation to go with it, with all other resources also included as Word documents. All resources including PowerPoints are numbered to make it easier to follow the unit, and there is also a teacher’s guide included. The Unit begins with an introduction to Microbits, and concludes with revision, end of unit test and DIRT reflection lesson. Topics included are Variables, Selection, Iteration, and various programming challenges in the form of games that the students can create. It also includes the Microbit Board Game project that takes 2 lessons, which is also available from the Programmer’s Paradise shop on TES Resources. A homework is also included, where the students can create a program using printed code blocks, cut and stick them onto the other half of the paper. This can be used after the first couple of lessons, or later if they are less familiar with the concepts.
Software Lesson KS3
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Software Lesson KS3

(1)
Presentation with information on computer software, including the differences between application, system software and operating systems. This is the fifth lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
Microbit Iteration lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Iteration lesson

(1)
This resource is a PowerPoint presentation used to teach iteration for students using the Microbit. The main task involves students programming definite and indefinite iteration through the use of two different looping blocks of code.
KS3 Scratch Flowcharts 2-lesson mini project
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KS3 Scratch Flowcharts 2-lesson mini project

(0)
Included in this resource is a Powerpoint which is helpful in recapping flowcharts and then leads into a programming task involving a number guessing game. The students should be aiming to make a flowchart based on the first two tasks in the project, which will help them move on to programming them in Scratch in the second lesson. There is a card sort which involves writing the instructions onto blank paper symbols to form the flowchart, and examples of each task as a flowchart and scratch game. This has been used with Year 7 following two previous units using Scratch, as a warm up for programming as well as a reminder of flowcharts and their usefulness in planning programs.
GCSE Run Length Encoding Programming Lesson tasks
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GCSE Run Length Encoding Programming Lesson tasks

(0)
This resource contains tasks for a complete programming lesson based on Run Length Encoding. If students have looked at the theory this lesson is a good follow up as it improves their programming skills and reinforces the theory learned previously. Included in this resource is a self-marking Excel starter document, and Powerpoint presentation for the lesson. The code with tasks is included for students to copy and paste into Visual Basic, or pseudocode for more of a challenge. EDITED: Now includes a basic Testing table in a Word document so the students can prove that their program is working and become familiar with the process for their coursework.
KS2/KS3 slug trail maze tutorial
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KS2/KS3 slug trail maze tutorial

(0)
In this resource is a working version of a ‘slug trail’ maze game, and a Word document tutorial to go with it. The tutorial can be given to students as a help sheet once they have been given an introductory demonstration, or if they are pushing on further than the rest of the class. The tutorial help sheet includes screenshots of code and explains how and why this code is used to create the finished version of the game.
KS3 Scratch Space Intruders game tutorial
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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 Endless scrolling game scratch tutorial
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KS3 Endless scrolling game scratch tutorial

(0)
This resource is a tutorial to help students understand how variables and iteration are used to create a simple scrolling game. The tutorial includes screenshots of code snippets and instructions on how and why the code works to create the finished version of the game. The resource also includes the finished version of the game, which I use to demonstrate the game before showing the first few steps in making it. The tutorial can be used as a help sheet for students who push on further with the game before the rest of the class, or who might need help in getting their game to work as intended.
KS3 Scratch Game Project
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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)
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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)
Logic Gates Information Sheet
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Logic Gates Information Sheet

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This resource is an information sheet useful for an introduction to logic gates, revision or for absent students to help them catch up. Double side of A4.
Microbit Offline Programming Homework
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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.
AQA Pseudocode Guide
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AQA Pseudocode Guide

(0)
This Powerpoint is a resource which I have made available to all GCSE students - it is based around the AQA pseudocode guide and compares each instruction to VB.NET commands. This is not something I have spent much lesson time on, but it could be used as an introduction to pseudocode for new GCSE classes.