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Nichola Wilkin - Computer Science

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High-impact computer science resources that are based on sound educational psychological theories to help all pupils reach their full potential. I’m an experienced teacher/HoD and professionally create computing and computer science teaching resources through my company Nichola Wilkin Ltd. All these resources have been exclusively created by me. I’m an author who has written for both BBC Bitesize and Cambridge University Press. Quality teaching resources you can trust!

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High-impact computer science resources that are based on sound educational psychological theories to help all pupils reach their full potential. I’m an experienced teacher/HoD and professionally create computing and computer science teaching resources through my company Nichola Wilkin Ltd. All these resources have been exclusively created by me. I’m an author who has written for both BBC Bitesize and Cambridge University Press. Quality teaching resources you can trust!
Robust Programs Knowledge Organiser
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Robust Programs Knowledge Organiser

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This visually appealing knowledge organiser is a quick summary to recap how to produce robust programs. It can help pupils revise for end of unit tests or GCSE computer science exams by including small straightforward facts that can be learnt in minutes. A powerful revision aid that your students will love. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and together we can boost your pupil’s confidence in understanding how to create robust programs. WHAT IS INCLUDED? This PDF knowledge organiser includes the important facts and a separate PDF document includes revision tips and an exam style question including a possible answer. HOW CAN I USE IT? This resource makes an ideal homework task, can be used as part of a lesson or given to pupils to help them with their revision. WHAT DOES IT COVER? This knowledge organiser includes easy to digest facts on the following topics: Input sanitisation Validation checks Planning for contingencies Anticipating misuse Authentication Adding comments, indentation and using sensible variable names Iterative and final/terminal testing Syntax and logical errors Using a test table . Get your copy of this fantastic knowledge organiser now. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. Click here to see my other computer science knowledge organisers
Python Iteration Lesson
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Python Iteration Lesson

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This complete Python programming lesson teaches pupils about iteration, namely for loops and while loops. It also includes lots of practice with reading and drawing flow diagrams. Download this no-prep lesson now to help you take control of your workload. This teaching resource includes an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation including videos to teach the key skills and the easy to follow teachers lesson plan includes all the answers. This ready-to-use lesson is perfect for non-specialist teachers, newly qualified teachers and teachers who are teaching Python for the first time. Please note: This lesson does assume the pupils are familiar with using basic if and else statements in Python. (My ready to use lessons to teach those skills are available here: “If Statement Lesson” and “More If Statements Lesson” ) Duration: 1 lesson This lesson teaches pupils about: For loops using the range statement While loops The difference between count controlled and condition-controlled loops . What are you waiting for? Take action straight away and grab your copy of this wonderful lesson today that will keep your pupils engaged and making progress and save you preparation time. FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of our complete resources which we will usually charge full price for but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just our little way of saying thank you to our valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments. [Click Here To See More Of My Great Python Lessons] (https://www.tes.com/resources/search/?authorId=835903&q=Python Lessons&shop=nwilkin)
KS3 Python SoW Outline
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KS3 Python SoW Outline

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This free document outlines the lessons that can be used to teach Python programming covering the national curriculum requirements for a text based programming language for key stage 3. It outlines the lessons and provides links to make your job easier when searching for a comprehensive, high-quality set of lessons. It also includes a link to an end of unit assessment.
Algorithm Unplugged Activity KS1 Computing
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Algorithm Unplugged Activity KS1 Computing

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This activity helps towards of the coverage of the new computing national curriculum requirement of understand what algorithms are. An algorithm is a set of instructions. Help pupils learn about putting instructions into order using these cards. Ask the pupils to cut out each set and stick them in the correct order on paper or card. Cards 3 and 4 can have multiple answers and can form the basis for group discussion. A good activity to use before introducing the pupils to bee-bots.
Python Printable Dictionary
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Python Printable Dictionary

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This is a quick reference guide to help pupils (and teachers) find the correct syntax for common lines of code in Python. Best used as a memory aid rather than a teaching aid. Print as a Booklet for best layout. Suitable for GCSE Computer Science classes and KS3 Computing classes.
Rubber Duck Debugging Lesson
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Rubber Duck Debugging Lesson

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How can a rubber duck help you be a better programmer? How can they possibly have a place in our classrooms? What is rubber duck debugging? When I first heard about this strange phenomenon, I was a little sceptical. Is this just another gimmick? Is there a surplus of rubber ducks that need repurposing? No, apparently this is a recognised programming technique that really works. What do you do? You need enough rubber ducks so that each pupil has their own duck. Amazon sell bags of rubber ducks for a reasonable price. Run through the presentation with them, give them the 3 Python programs to practice with and watch as your programming classes learn how to solve many of their programming problems without having to rely on you! If you are having trouble finding non-squeaky ducks you can either print out an image of the duck to be blue-tacked to the corner of their screen for everyone, or try the squeaky ducks but tell them, if there is an excessive amount of squeaking they will have their duck taken away and given a "flat duck"instead.
Embedded Systems Lesson
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Embedded Systems Lesson

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How can you teach your students about embedded systems, in an engaging way? The key is to break up the theory into small manageable chunks and reinforce each section with a variety of activities. And that is exactly what this computer science lesson does. Why spend hours making your own resources when it is all done for you? Download this embedded systems computing lesson today and save yourself all that preparation. WHAT IS INCLUDED? Suitable for GCSE Computer Science pupils following either OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) or AQA GCSE Computer Science (8520) syllabuses. This lesson includes: an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation, differentiated lesson objectives, a video to change focus and break up the lesson, loads of individual and group tasks and questions, a printable ready to use worksheet for classwork, 3 differentiated exam style questions which can be used either in the plenary or set for a homework task, a comprehensive 3-page teacher’s lesson plan including ALL THE ANSWERS. . WHAT DOES IT COVER? With virtually no preparation (apart from photocopying the worksheets) you will be ready to teach about your classes about: What an embedded system is How an embedded system differs from a general purpose computer system Identifying the purpose, input, process and outputs of a variety of embedded systems Identifying the benefits of using embedded systems . DURATION: 1 lesson Download the lesson now and take back control of your workload. Click here to see some more computer science lessons
Binary Activity
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Binary Activity

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A self-marking spreadsheet, you can install onto your computer network that the pupils copy into their own work area and work through. The stages get progressively harder and asks them to convert from binary to denary and from denary to binary. For some of the harder levels you may need to provide a piece of paper and a pen to help them work out the answers. Can even be used as a form of assessment as their work can be saved. Great to use either in the classroom or set it as a homework task. Suitable for GCSE Computer Science classes and KS3 Computing classes.
Fun End of Term Summer Quiz 2017 (GCSE Computer Science and KS3 Computing)
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Fun End of Term Summer Quiz 2017 (GCSE Computer Science and KS3 Computing)

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NEW COMPUTER SCIENCE QUIZ FOR THE END OF YEAR / SUMMER TERM 2017! A fun whole class quiz, ideally suited to keep pupils engaged and settled for the final lesson of the summer term. Suitable for year 7 to year 11. The quiz includes computer science elements as well as other fun summer related questions getting them into the summer holiday spirit. Guaranteed to make the final lesson fun before they break up for summer. Print out the answer sheets (enough for 1 per team) and then run through the quiz on the whiteboard. After each section the answers are provided allowing the quiz to easily be cut shorter if you wish. Suitable for GCSE Computer Science classes and KS3 Computing and ICT classes.
End of term SUMMER Computing Quiz 2016
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End of term SUMMER Computing Quiz 2016

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PLEASE NOTE: I have released an updated quiz for 2017 which you can download fro free from https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/fun-end-of-term-summer-quiz-2017-gcse-computer-science-and-ks3-computing-11579339 This quiz is a fun end of term whole class quiz, ideally suited to keep pupils engaged and settled for the final lesson of the summer term. Suitable for year 7 to year 11. The quiz includes computing elements as well as other seasonal questions guaranteed to make the final lesson fun before they break up for the summer holidays. Print out the answer sheets (enough for 1 per team) and then run through the quiz on the whiteboard. After each section the answers are provided allowing the quiz to easily be cut shorter if you wish.
The Purpose of the CPU Lesson
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The Purpose of the CPU Lesson

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How can you teach your students about the purpose of the CPU in an engaging way? The key is to break up the theory into small manageable chunks and reinforce each section with a variety of activities. And that is EXACTLY what this lesson does. Why spend hours making your own resources when it is all done for you? Download this lesson today and save yourself all that preparation. WHAT IS INCLUDED? Suitable for GCSE Computer Science pupils following either OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) and AQA GCSE Computer Science (8520) syllabuses. This lesson includes: an attractive dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint presentation, differentiated lesson objectives, a video to change focus and break up the lesson, loads of individual and group tasks and questions, a printable ready-to-use worksheet for classwork, 3 differentiated exam-style questions which can be used either in the plenary or set for a homework task, a comprehensive 2-page teacher’s lesson plan including ALL THE ANSWERS. . WHAT DOES IT COVER? With virtually no preparation (apart from photocopying the single page worksheet) you will be ready to teach your classes about: the relationship between hardware and software the fetch - decode - execute cycle address busses and data busses the purpose and main functions of the CPU . **DURATION: **1 lesson Please note: This lesson does not teach pupils about the Von Neumann Architecture as that is covered in a separate lesson. FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of my complete resources for which I usually charge full price but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just my little way of saying thank you to my valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments. Check out these other great resources by Nichola Wilkin (nwilkin): CPU Performance Von Neumann Architecture Rom, Ram and Virtual Memory Embedded Systems Secondary Storage
Binary Calculator Unplugged Activity
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Binary Calculator Unplugged Activity

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This practical hands-on activity is best used to introduce pupils to binary for the first time. It takes about 20 minutes to make the calculator, following the instructions on page 2 (they will need scissors) which can then be used in the lesson to help the pupils convert from binary to denary values.
Drawing with Scratch Lesson
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Drawing with Scratch Lesson

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This lesson allows pupils to practice using the pen tool in Scratch and uses the ‘repeat’ function to create mathematical shapes. This lesson does assume the pupils have a basic understanding of using Scratch.
End of term EASTER Computing Quiz 2016
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End of term EASTER Computing Quiz 2016

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A fun end of term whole class quiz, ideally suited to keep pupils engaged and settled for the final lesson of the spring term. Suitable for year 7 to year 11. The quiz includes computing elements as well as other seasonal questions guaranteed to make the final lesson fun before they break up for Easter. Print out the answer sheets (enough for 1 per team) and then run through the quiz on the whiteboard. After each section the answers are provided allowing the quiz to easily be cut shorter if you wish.
Python Good Programming Habits
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Python Good Programming Habits

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A great lesson to consolidate basic programming skills whilst helping your pupils learn good programming habits. The totally FREE lesson teaches your students about following good programming habits. This this lesson involves students consolidating their previous programming skills using fun and interactive programming task cards, which are ideal for pupils who struggle with the basics or the syntax of the three basic programming constructs (sequence, selection and iteration). This high-energy activity asks pupils to create several programs in which they will be utilising the good programming habits they have been taught at the start of the lesson. Download this ready to use lesson now and become more confident in teaching programming to your pupils. It’s free so what have you got to lose? Please note: students should be familiar with basic input and print statements, using simple mathematical operators, if statements and iteration, although there is plenty of practice opportunities in this lesson. This ready to use lesson is suitable for KS3 and GCSE computer science pupils. It includes an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation that includes differentiated lesson objectives, a video and lots of practical programming practice. It also includes a comprehensive 2-page teacher’s lesson plan. This ready-to-use lesson is perfect for non-specialist teachers, newly qualified teachers and teachers who are teaching Python for the first time. Duration: 1 lesson In this lesson your students will learn about: Why comments are used by programmers How to add a comment to a single line of code How to block out larger sections of Python code using comments How empty lines can be used both in the code and in the output Re-enforces the importance of good variable names. . What are you waiting for? Take action straight away and download your FREE copy of this wonderful low-prep lesson today that will keep your pupils engaged and making progress. Click Here To See More Of My Great Python Lessons
Network Topologies Lesson
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Network Topologies Lesson

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How can you teach your students about network topologies, in an engaging way? The key is to break up the theory into small manageable chunks and reinforce each section with a variety of activities. And that is exactly what this lesson does. Why spend hours making your own resources when it is all done for you? Download this lesson today and save yourself all that preparation. WHAT IS INCLUDED? Suitable for GCSE Computer Science pupils following either OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) or AQA GCSE Computer Science (8520) syllabuses. This lesson includes: an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation, differentiated lesson objectives, 4 videos to change focus and break up the lesson, loads of individual and group tasks and questions, 2 printable ready to use worksheets for classwork, A set of taboo cards for the plenary 3 differentiated exam style questions which can be used either in the plenary or set for a homework task, a comprehensive 3-page teacher’s lesson plan including ALL THE ANSWERS. . WHAT DOES IT COVER? With virtually no preparation (apart from photocopying the worksheets and taboo cards) you will be ready to teach about your classes about: Ring network topology Bus network topology Star network topology Full mesh network topology Partial mesh network topology . **DURATION: **1 lesson Check out these other great resources by Nichola Wilkin (nwilkin): Network types Network hardware What is the internet?
Christmas Computing Quiz – Year 9
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Christmas Computing Quiz – Year 9

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Are you ready for an exhilarating and festive end of term Christmas activity? Look no further than our electrifying Christmas Computing Quiz, tailor-made for your Year 9 students! Prepare to be dazzled with this “Who done it?” style quiz specially crafted for Year 9. Solve the mystery by answering computing questions correctly in order to interview witnesses and suspects, seamlessly intertwined with a Christmas theme that will leave both your SLT and your year 9 computing pupils in high spirits as the term concludes. HOW DOES THE CHRISTMAS COMPUTING QUIZ WORK? Once you’ve purchased the resource you get a PDF which contains a link. Share the provided link with your students and watch as it whisks them away to an enchanting digital realm filled with engaging questions and an intriguing mystery to solve. Your year 9 computing students can embark on this journey of knowledge and fun on their own, or, for an added dose of excitement, encourage pairs of students to team up and tackle the quiz together. The joy multiplies as collaboration ignites their enthusiasm. And the best part? The quiz is a self-guided adventure. As your students conquer each stage, the next one automatically beckons, providing you with invaluable time to support those in need or attend to the myriad of other holiday season tasks tugging at your attention. Fear not, for we’ve thought of everything. All the answers are readily available in the comprehensive teacher’s guide, ensuring you can rescue any students who find themselves in a puzzling predicament. This captivating experience is designed to last between 30 to 40 minutes so you may need to provide a second activity for particularly speedy early finishers. WHAT IS INCLUDED? You get a single PDF file which contains the link to the activity and the answers to the computing questions along with the solution to the mystery. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Grab your copy of the Year 9 Christmas Computing Quiz – a timeless gem that you can deploy year after year with a new wave of Year 9 computing students. Let the festivities begin! COMPUTING TOPICS INCLUDE: Computer laws Software (spreadsheets and graphics) Networks and the internet Algorithms and logic Programming Data representation Hardware Computer systems . Click here to check out this amazing bundle to get all 5 Key Stage 3 Computing and GCSE Computer Science quizzes at a knock down price. IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to run the quizzes there are a few activities which require links to external websites. Here are the external sites that you will need to have unblocked on your school network. view . genial . ly jigsawexplorer . com PLEASE NOTE: This game is intended to be used on a desktop or laptop computer and some of the features will not be available on an iPad or other mobile device.
Exam Technique for GCSE Computer Science
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Exam Technique for GCSE Computer Science

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Complete exam technique lesson to help GCSE computer science students boost their grades. Do you feel your students know their computer science theory but are worried they still need a little extra help on understanding how to answer the exam questions to get the highest marks possible? Fear not, help is at hand. This stand-alone lesson introduces your pupils to common exam terminology so they feel more prepared in understand exactly what type of answers the questions require to get the top marks available. It gives them plenty or practice in answering a variety of questions including a min exam paper you can set as a homework task or during a second lesson. Buy this resource now and give your students the opportunity of gaining a few more valuable points. This can mean the difference between getting the grades they need or possibly missing out just because they didn’t know how to answer one particular type of question. What is included? This complete lesson includes : a 29-slide PowerPoint presentation (editable) 1-page PDF teacher’s lesson plan (not-editable) 1-page PDF algorithms question handout (not-editable) 2-page PDF mini exam paper (not-editable) . Please note: This lesson was created specifically for the OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) and AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525) exams and will help your pupils feel more prepared for their exams. How can it be used? The exam preparation PowerPoint presentation is best used during your computer science exam revision lessons. Use the PowerPoint presentation along with the class working through all the exam practice activities together. You can either set the mini exam paper as a homework task and mark it together the next lesson or even let them mark it themselves. Alternatively set the mini exam paper during a second dedicated lesson and mark it together in class. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy of this invaluable lesson now and give your pupils the boost they need to get a few extra marks in their computer science exams. FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of our complete resources which we will usually charge full price for but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just our little way of saying thank you to our valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments. Looking for computer science revision material? Check out these fabulous self-study workbooks that completely cover the exam specifications: Complete set of OCR Revision Workbooks Complete set of AQA Revision Workbooks
Online Safety and Cyber Security Escape Room
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Online Safety and Cyber Security Escape Room

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This online safety and cyber security escape room is a wonderful no-prep lesson your students will love. Created for secondary students this escape room combines quizzes, puzzles, videos, animation, sound and online activities to test their understanding of important digital citizenship concepts and bring online safety and cyber security to life. Absolutely no preparation, no printing and no specialist knowledge required by the teacher. This lesson makes an ideal: cover lesson, end of term activity or end of unit activity. . A fun, educational escape room game this is sure to be a memorable lesson your students will adore. Buy this online safety and cyber security escape room now and save yourself hours of preparation. HOW DOES IT WORK? Ideally students would need headphones to make the most out of this activity but it can be run without if necessary. Simply give the students the link to the online site (no sign up required) and away they go. Students can work individually or, if you prefer, they can work through this online safety and cyber security escape room in pairs using computers located side by side (they can each listen to the videos and sound clips through their own set of headphones but can still talk to each other to discuss their ideas). The teacher doesn’t need to do anything other than give the students the link to this online activity at the start of the lesson. All the activities are self-contained with students getting feedback automatically on their progress. Pease note: Students will need internet access in order to play this escape room game. If your students complete all the challenges in the cyber security escape room, they progress onto the Nova Labs cyber security online game as a reward which will keep them occupied and continue learning for the remainder of the lesson. HOW LONG DOES THE ACTIVITY LAST? This escape room is suitable for a variety of lesson lengths. It takes approximately 40-45 minutes to work through the online safety and cyber security escape room challenges (25-30 minutes if they are very quick) and the remainder of the lesson is taken up with Nova Labs cyber security game which on average can take 30 minutes or more to complete. You can cut the lesson shorter if required by stopping pupils from playing the Nova Labs game without completing all the levels. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy of this exciting and educational online safety and cyber security escape room today. FREE BONUS PRODUCT INCLUDED As a special thank you for purchasing this product I am pleased to be able to also include a surprise FREE bonus gift. This gift is one of our complete resources which we will usually charge full price for but is yours absolutely free when you purchase this product. Just our little way of saying thank you to our valued customers. I hope you enjoy it and get use out of it, with my compliments.
Python Turtle Lesson
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Python Turtle Lesson

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Looking for a fun, engaging lesson using the Python turtle? The totally FREE lesson teaches your students about using the turtle in Python to draw shapes. Students will learn how to create shapes and repeating patterns using the for loop and range statement. This is an ideal lesson to use after teaching your class about for loops, helping pupils embed iteration in their programming skills. Download this ready to use lesson now and become more confident in teaching programming to your pupils. It’s free so what have you got to lose? This ready to use lesson is suitable for KS3 and GCSE computer science pupils. It includes an attractive dyslexia friendly PowerPoint presentation that includes differentiated lesson objectives, videos to teach key skills, created in authentic English by an experienced computer science teacher and the lesson also includes lots of practical programming practise. It also includes a comprehensive lesson plan including all the answers. This ready-to-use lesson is perfect for non-specialist teachers, newly qualified teachers and teachers who are teaching Python for the first time. Please note: This lesson does use for loops and random.randint( ) and random.choice( ) statements and it is advantageous for pupils to have already become familiar with these but it is not essential. Duration: 1 lesson This lesson teaches pupils about: Creating simple shapes using a loop Using computation thinking skills to identify repeating patterns Nesting loops to create more complex patterns Altering the background colour Altering the line colour Altering the line thickness Altering the fill colour Using random to create unique random patterns . What are you waiting for? Take action straight away and download your FREE copy of this wonderful no-prep lesson today that will keep your pupils engaged and making progress. Click Here To See More Of My Great Python Lessons