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.
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.
The resources in this bundle should cover 7 lessons, and result in students creating 4 different programs. The associated content covers algorithms, sequencing, selection and iteration, and the assessment at the end also includes debugging and showing an understanding of code.
This assessment is based around lessons completed using Scratch, and includes questions on algorithms, sequencing, selection, iteration, and debugging and understanding code. There are 13 questions in total, with 17 marks available.
Included in this resource is a short PowerPoint presentation which includes a quick starter and introduces the idea of using Scratch to create an Etch-a-sketch type drawing program.
I usually then show them the finished program, and then give them instructions on creating the sprite, and moving it with the arrow keys. After that, they begin to work on their own programs and use the tutorial if they are stuck or need a hint.
If there is time at the end, they can have a drawing competition using their newly created programs!
This lesson is based around using indefinite iteration in Scratch, through creating a game where the player catches randomly falling objects.
This resource includes the full game code, a presentation to introduce indefinite iteration, and a tutorial for students to create the game.
Included in this resource is a tutorial for programming a joke animation on Scratch, as well as a sample program. I usually begin by showing the finished program, then give them some step-by-step instructions. When it is their turn to program, the tutorial is made available to give them any help they need and remind them of what needs to be added to their program next.
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.
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.
This is the tenth and final lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic, and includes a worksheet, online quizzes and games for students to play to revise everything from the previous lessons.
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.
This resource is a PowerPoint presentation that helps to reinforce definite vs. indefinite iteration, and also includes instructions for creating a game for the microbit. Complete code blocks shown in the PowerPoint.
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.
This resource is a PowerPoint used to teach a lesson on Selection statements using the Microbit. The lesson revolves around the students creating a 'Magic 8 Ball' game, using If...Then...Else blocks of code.
This is a programming project that I have used over 3 lessons with my mixed ability Year 10 class. Included is a PowerPoint with the main programming challenges, and the full code for demonstrating the game before the students make it (Visual Basic).
Each challenge should be discussed before the students choose either the code (easier) or pseudocode (harder) images to help them with the programming. Images have been used to avoid copy and pasting. The pseudocode will need to be translated into code and the code images contain key words blanked out to avoid pure copying.
GCSE lesson based around making the malware/cyber security topic related to programming.
Looked online but couldn't find anything useful so created a 'virus' program to teach the students without giving them information on how to do anything illegal.
Code works in Visual Basic, and is a good way to get the students hooked. Also worth mentioning that the 'virus' they create doesn't actually do anything malicious, it just appears that way, and gives them a chance to practice their programming techniques.
Then they have instructions on the worksheet that they follow through until they have a working program. Powerpoint is also included.
Included is a booklet containing a series of tasks (16 in total) with hints for some of the trickier tasks. There are also code snippets which can be used alongside the tasks or as an extra aid for students who are struggling.
Also included is a checklist which can be displayed during the project, so that students can update their progress through the tasks.
I have used this with a year 10 class who found it enjoyable as well as getting good programming practice.
The program makes use of variables, selection, definite and indefinite iteration, arrays, boolean variables and a linear search.
Included is a presentation on selection 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.
Included is a presentation on variables 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.
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.
Included is a programming project to recreate a well known game that I have used with a mixed ability Year 10 class. The project took 3-4 lessons and includes the powerpoint highlighting the main challenges in creating the game, the full code (Visual Basic), pseudocode for the whole program and images of code/pseudocode for each challenge that the programmers face. Images were used for this to prevent students copy and pasting the code.
To differentiate, after talking through solving each challenge as a class, the students were able to load up the image of either the code or pseudocode, and type the code required into their program. The pseudocode is more challenging as it needs translating into code, and the code has key words missing so it is not just about copying the code into their program.
I have also included teaching notes on how to discuss the different challenges, and a help sheet on 2-dimensional arrays.
This is the first in a series of eight Python 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.