KS2 Data handling with micro:bit

This unit of 5 lessons is aimed at pupils aged 9-10 (KS2 Year 5 in England) comprising editable plans, slides and student resources to teach data through a variety of unplugged and physical computing activities. Students write and evaluate algorithms and programs using selection and repetition to use micro:bit as a temperature recorder, an automatic warning system and a digital assistant. You will ideally use physical micro:bits for these lessons, although you can also use the simulator.

The unit comprises five lessons of approximately 60 minutes each:

1. Research lesson on understanding, locating and using data
2. Exploring the micro:bit’s sensors
3. Unplugged lesson designing gadgets with sensors
4. Using sensors in algorithms and programs
5. Programming digital assistants

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Learning objectives

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve problems
• can evaluate and apply information technology
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
• Additional skills
• Researching, design thinking, problem-solving, debugging.

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Included resources

• Lesson plan Word documents
• Lesson slides PowerPoints
• Student handouts
• micro:bit program files

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England KS2 computing curriculum links
Students should be taught to:

• design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems;
• solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts, use sequence, selection,… in programs; work with … various forms of input and output
• use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs

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England KS2 geography curriculum links
Students should be taught to:

• use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods including … digital technologies

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Code.org CS Fundamentals curriculum links
Courses C, D, E
Concepts included:

• data
• algorithms & programs using nested loops & conditionals (if/else if)
• sensors
• variables (strings)