KS2 micro:bit volcano animations

Unit of 5 Computing and Geography lessons for KS2 Year 4 in England (ages 8-9) Through a mixture of fun unplugged and programming activities related to animations, pupils develop their understanding of decomposition, flowchart algorithms and repetition. They then write, program and test an animation showing volcanic eruption using the LEDs on the micro:bit.

The unit comprises 5 lessons of approximately 60 minutes each

1. Unplugged lesson decomposing dance sequences and flipbook animations
2. Using flowchart algorithms and exploring repetitions in the MakeCode editor
3. Unplugged lesson decomposing and planning volcanic eruption animations
4. Programming in MakeCode and reviewing and micro:bit animations
5. Unplugged lesson decomposing the unit’s learning
   .

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
Creative thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, debugging.
.

Included resources

• Lesson plan
• Lesson slides
• Student handouts
• micro:bit program files
  .

England KS2 computing curriculum links

• design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals
• use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
• use sequence, and repetition in programs
  .

England KS2 geography curriculum links

• Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: volcanoes and earthquakes
  .

Code.org CS Fundamentals links
Courses A and B
Concepts included

• computational thinking
• sequencing
• events
• flowchart algorithms
• loops