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Computer Science Made Easy

Average Rating3.42
(based on 39 reviews)

I have a long history in teaching Computer Science at secondary level. Most of my resources are related to the Edexcel syllabus, but in CS computing is computing, and it is all much the same!. I like to teach programming in a way that the kids will really 'get' using things relevant in their lives, like Beyonce, and Adidas!

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I have a long history in teaching Computer Science at secondary level. Most of my resources are related to the Edexcel syllabus, but in CS computing is computing, and it is all much the same!. I like to teach programming in a way that the kids will really 'get' using things relevant in their lives, like Beyonce, and Adidas!
debugging scratch
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debugging scratch

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This resource explains the concept of debugging, and the types of errors that can occur. It has an accompanying worksheet and Scratch files to debug and write about. There are assessment questions at the end. This has been very engaging, and has been observed twice as an outstanding lesson.
Christmas Scratch Animated card
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Christmas Scratch Animated card

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This contains a starter where students are asked to ponder what makes an animated card interesting. The scripts are then given for learners to create a fully animated e-card. It includes moving snow, decorations that find their way to the tree, a star coming from the sky and landing on the tree. Baubles that flash, and a merry Christmas sign that lights up. Some features start automatically and others are interactive. This can be used from around age 7 right up to year 11! Everyone loves a Christmas theme! The lesson ends with a bronze, silver gold worksheet which allows differentiation from a cloze key word task, to considering real life uses, and ends with Blooms evaluative task for more able learners. There is also a homework / extended learning task available. Two learning walks have been rated outstanding with this lesson.
Beginners Python lists
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Beginners Python lists

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This lesson, with learning objective and bronze, silver, gold outcomes introduces lists in Python. It uses ideas that they are familiar with, to teach the concept before the coding. Several examples are given, including populated lists, empty lists, and lists which can be appended with inputs. My learners were very engaged with the bronze silver and gold tasks, and all wanted to get researching to complete gold! None of the lesson expects prior Python knowledge other than opening it, and using print("this"). There is an extended learning task on the lesson too.
Beginners while loop plenaries / starters
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Beginners while loop plenaries / starters

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There are enough here to attach to a whole harm term of work (7 activities with solutions). The activities can either be used as a warm up starter, a recall to retain, or a plenary to check understanding. The activities are all different, and have things like spot the errors, true false, cloze sentences, amongst other things. Very engaging, and they bring real life situations to what can be quite a dry subject. I hope your learners are enthused with these activities as mine have been.
12 Christmas Python scripts - 2-3 hours work coding
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12 Christmas Python scripts - 2-3 hours work coding

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From absolute beginner. These could be used as solutions (given as problems to solve). Or used to copy code and annotate. Or even 'broken' and used as debugging tasks. The scripts all have a Christmas theme to keep learners engaged for the run up to Christmas. The skills / constructs included are: Using strings If, then else Tuples Import time Import webbrowser Maths Append to list Sub routines While loops For loops Sorting Concatenation Casting You will use this invaluable resource with different scenarios over and over again! Enjoy - and merry Christmas to you!
Follow me!  Scratch crazy monsters for EAL or very low ability
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Follow me! Scratch crazy monsters for EAL or very low ability

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I have created this resource to take the child through adding a sprite, a stage, colour change, music loops, speech, and movement. The theme is crazy monsters, as they are in the disco, you will see the delight when they can have a highly interactive monster change colour and play music loops. There is very little text on the screen, designed for the very young, or those who have English as a second language. They just follow the circles on each slide to add to the coding. There are 36 slides, with a certificate for the basics, then extension work for faster learners. You won't be sorry you bought this idea and activity as you see their engagement and delight.
Follow me!  Chamak dances, Scratch 38 slide activity for primary
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Follow me! Chamak dances, Scratch 38 slide activity for primary

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Part of the follow me range, designed for younger learners, non-readers, or EAL pupils. The learners are able to follow the circles on a slide show to code a lady dancing to a guitar. Skills built in this: adding stage adding and editing sprites changing costumes adding music changing beats to suit using a forever loop using delays There are two certificates to be gained in this very engaging lesson(s) This resource could be used by an independent learner, or by a teacher going through the slide in turn. It's real strength though is with non specialists, helping those who are unable, or unwilling to read. The lesson is very visual, and the audio also makes it engaging.
Half a term Python debugging
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Half a term Python debugging

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An engaging resources which allows the learners to find errors marked with hashtags. The slides include the broken code (fixed code is on the teacher slides, separate and can also be received via email). Even if you choose not to use this for debugging exercises, it is useful for programming ideas for beginners to copy. After each script the learners are encouraged to state initial tests, actual tests, in preparation for GCSE NEA work. My learners raced up the stairs to start on these tasks, very enthusiastically. The topics include maths, strings, lists, tuples, concatenation, for loops, sub routines and appending to lists. The scripts can also be used as base scripts for other ideas. At the end of the half term of work, there is a challenge project, worded like a very watered down GCSE project. Enjoy!
A lesson on algorithms
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A lesson on algorithms

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Follows lessons on decomposition, and abstraction, this lesson shows how the decomposed, abstracted ideas fit back together with an algorithm. There is opportunity to practice creating algorithms in group work. Then at the end, learners are able to practice all three cornerstones of decomposing, abstracting, and creating a main and sub routines. Learning objectives, tasks, and home learning are all included.
Scratch 2 hour lesso. DJ lights, and room changes
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Scratch 2 hour lesso. DJ lights, and room changes

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Another DOUBLE lesson for the Scratch DJ script. Complete with learning objectives, outcomes, plenary and homework. This presentation gives the codes and shows the learners how to make the disco lights flash. Then they can create a changing stage and create a story animation.
Edexcel GCSE ICT full revision pack
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Edexcel GCSE ICT full revision pack

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This is a week's work, and cover all of the topics in Edexcel GCSE ICT. There are past papers, with mark scheme, results plus, and examiner reports, with just the questions on that particular topic. These are accompanied by a pre-test revision PowerPoint, and a whistle stop tour of the topics. Each one contains a link to a Kahoot to add some fun into the lessons. The topics are: Connectivity Digital Devices Issues Social networking Online services Operating online Everything you need for revision from now until the exam.