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Programmer's Paradise

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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.

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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.
Individual QLA Generator
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Individual QLA Generator

(2)
This spreadsheet is used to generate individual QLAs from a whole class QLA. You just copy and paste in the question number, marks and question subject, along with the class scores and it will create individual sheets for students to then rate using a RAG system. The individual QLAs are designed to be 2 per page of A4. The columns auto-resize during the creation of the sheets so be careful if using full names, as it may mean that one sheet is wider than the rest which can cause issues when cutting!
GCSE Battleships programming project
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Battleships programming project

(0)
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.
Exam Style Python Programming Questions (GCSE AQA)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Exam Style Python Programming Questions (GCSE AQA)

(0)
These questions are used to help students practice longer Python coding questions that they will encounter in GCSE exams. The pseudocode style where included is based on AQA, and each question comes with a mark scheme showing where marks are scored. Again, this is based around AQA’s mark schemes (i.e. awarding marks for including selection, for example). This set contains 8 programming questions and mark schemes for each. In separate uploads I have the powerpoint used in lessons to help deliver specific lessons which build up towards answering the longer programming questions in this set. The order I used them (with the intent of increasing difficulty as we went along): 1 - Phone Bill Calculator 2 - Note Changer 3 - Swimming Pool 4 - Guessing Game 5 - Substrings and functions 6 - Sports Day (function) 7 - Linear Search Array 8 - Inverting Image (2D array)
Microbit Programming Assessment
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Programming Assessment

(0)
Included is an assessment for the end of a microbit programming unit. Topics included variables, selection, definite and indefinite iteration. The test also includes specific practical knowledge of programming using microbit blocks.
Logic Gates KS3 Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Logic Gates KS3 Lesson

(0)
This resource includes a PowerPoint presentation that teaches about logic gates, with a worksheet designed to be used on the computers, and an online link to practically find out about logic gates. It also includes a double sided homework sheet. This is the seventh lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
AQA GCSE Python Series of lessons - exam style questions, mark schemes and powerpoints
MrHawes8MrHawes8

AQA GCSE Python Series of lessons - exam style questions, mark schemes and powerpoints

8 Resources
This is 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. The programming content for each lesson is as follows: Input/Output Selection Multiple Selection statements Indefinite Iteration Substrings and functions Functions Arrays 2D Arrays
KS2 / KS3 Scratch Assessment
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 / KS3 Scratch Assessment

(0)
This assessment is similar but more advanced than the introductory Scratch unit assessment in my shop, and includes questions on subroutines and variables as well as algorithms, sequencing, selection and iteration. This is aimed at students who have completed two units of Scratch.
GCSE Bubble Sort Programming Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Bubble Sort Programming Lesson

(0)
Included is a presentation reviewing the Bubble Sort method, and an interactive Excel activity that can is self-marking and can give students immediate feedback. There is also a help sheet for anyone who has missed the Bubble Sort theory or needs help with the activities, and differentiated instructions for writing a Bubble Sort program (I used Visual Basic but the code hints could be adapted to another language quickly). I have also included the lesson plan that I used for a lesson observation. There are notes on AfL and differentiation included in the plan.
How a Computer Works KS3 Unit of Work
MrHawes8MrHawes8

How a Computer Works KS3 Unit of Work

11 Resources
This 10-lesson unit consists of the following lessons: Computer Systems Hardware Components Input and Output devices CPU Software Operating Systems Logic Gates Storage x2 Revision
Microbit Unit of Work
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Unit of Work

(1)
This Unit of Work includes 10 lessons worth of Microbit programming skills and knowledge. Each lesson has a PowerPoint presentation to go with it, with all other resources also included as Word documents. All resources including PowerPoints are numbered to make it easier to follow the unit, and there is also a teacher’s guide included. The Unit begins with an introduction to Microbits, and concludes with revision, end of unit test and DIRT reflection lesson. Topics included are Variables, Selection, Iteration, and various programming challenges in the form of games that the students can create. It also includes the Microbit Board Game project that takes 2 lessons, which is also available from the Programmer’s Paradise shop on TES Resources. A homework is also included, where the students can create a program using printed code blocks, cut and stick them onto the other half of the paper. This can be used after the first couple of lessons, or later if they are less familiar with the concepts.
Microbit Board Game Project
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Board Game Project

(1)
This resource was used for Year 7 Computing following a unit involving learning about variables, selection, iteration and random number generation using the Microbit. They loved playing the game, especially as they helped to create it! The idea is to have them use the Microbit as part of the board game. They will program in a dice function for shaking the Microbit, and other features for when they press Button A or B. The game works similarly to Snakes and Ladders. Button A moves the player either forwards or backwards, 6, 4, or 2 spaces (picked randomly by the program), and Button B moves the player up or down by flashing up to 3 up or down arrows (again randomly). Instructions were given via a worksheet, where the first page (two of the tasks) were given in the first lesson and the final one was given at the start of the second. When they had finished their program they could then download it to the Microbit and play their game. My students ended up with between 10-25 minutes playing time depending on how quickly they programmed their game. They can provide their own playing pieces from pencil cases etc. and the board is provided (A4 printout is fine). The code is in the screenshots in the PowerPoint slides and can be made up quickly.
Storage Lesson 2 KS3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Storage Lesson 2 KS3

(0)
This lesson is the ninth in the 'How a Computer Works' topic. It includes a PowerPoint presentation for the teacher to talk through each type of storage, which can build on the main task in the previous lesson. Towards the end the students can create a table to fill in information about each type of storage. There is also a template for this included for weaker students.
CPU Lesson KS3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

CPU Lesson KS3

(0)
This resource consists of a PowerPoint presentation giving information about the CPU. It also has links to youtube and revision games to play at the end. This is the fourth lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
KS3 Operating Systems (OS) lesson plan  and powerpoint - 60 minute lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS3 Operating Systems (OS) lesson plan and powerpoint - 60 minute lesson

(0)
A 60 minute lesson delivered for Year 8 in an observed lesson. All tasks are on the lesson plan/powerpoint notes, there are more than enough so I have not delivered this lesson using every task. Worth running through the memory game slide to see how the animation works before using it. This is the sixth lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
AQA Pseudocode Series of Lessons
MrHawes8MrHawes8

AQA Pseudocode Series of Lessons

8 Resources
This bundle contains 8 exam-style pseudocode questions and mark schemes linked to AQA’s pseudocode guide. Each question is an example of the type of longer written pseudocode questions found in GCSE exams, and also contains a Powerpoint which helps to build up towards answering the longer question towards the end of the lesson. The Powerpoint contains information about the pseudocode related to the question, and some contain theory as well (e.g. arrays or string handling)
KS3 Endless scrolling game scratch tutorial
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS3 Endless scrolling game scratch tutorial

(0)
This resource is a tutorial to help students understand how variables and iteration are used to create a simple scrolling game. The tutorial includes screenshots of code snippets and instructions on how and why the code works to create the finished version of the game. The resource also includes the finished version of the game, which I use to demonstrate the game before showing the first few steps in making it. The tutorial can be used as a help sheet for students who push on further with the game before the rest of the class, or who might need help in getting their game to work as intended.
KS2 / KS3 Scratch Expert Bundle
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 / KS3 Scratch Expert Bundle

5 Resources
This bundle is the third in a series of Scratch units, intended for KS3 or possibly high ability KS2 students. The first two lessons include looking at flowcharts and creating an algorithm using a flowchart, which then feeds into creating the game in Scratch. The third lesson involves creating a slug trail maze, which draws on what they might have done previously in creating mazes and drawing with the pen tool. The fourth lesson is more in depth with a look at variables and iteration, creating an endless scrolling flying game. The fifth lesson involves debugging and coding a Space Invaders-style game using starter code. This task includes subroutines and is the hardest of the unit. The unit ends with a project (3+ lessons) where the students create their own game based on some loose instructions. They then write about how they have made their game using a template in Powerpoint.
GCSE Binary Addition and Shift Presentation
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Binary Addition and Shift Presentation

(3)
Included is a Powerpoint used to teach binary addition and shift to a mixed ability GCSE class. Includes lots of chances for students to practice the techniques with questions and follow up by writing notes on how to calculate the addition and shifts.
KS2-KS3 Scale Enlargement activity
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2-KS3 Scale Enlargement activity

(0)
This worksheet is for students who have been working on scale enlargement. I have used this as a homework for high ability Year 6 students, who have worked on scale factors and centre of enlargement during lesson time. The PDF contains two pages - the final shape (Answers) is on the second page.
GCSE Arrays Introduction
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Arrays Introduction

(1)
A powerpoint introduction to arrays (GCSE) including why they are used, and a programming task at the end. Also included in this resource is the full code (Visual Basic) for all four tasks at the end of the presentation.