A guide to the resources
This resource page is designed to provide free computer science curricula for educators regardless of background or subject matter expertise.
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The courses on this page here fall into five categories:
- Scratch Coding
- Scratch Physical Computing
- Python Coding
- Python Physical Computing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
For each course, you will find a title and brief description of what you can expect to teach your students. In the links below each course description you can access comprehensive teacher guides with learning objectives, customizable slides, suggested schedules, reference sheets, and student worksheets. You will also find finished sample programs that you can use to familiarize yourself with the material, and step-by-step instructions to help you explain and model each topic for your students. In addition to coding, you will find students are exposed to skills like collaborative problem solving, creative writing, visual design, critical thinking, and giving and receiving feedback.
To view self-paced lessons and instructional videos, check out our courses on Boolean U.
In support of the DC Public Schools Enchanted City Project, supporting content is below.
All materials are shared under the Creative Commons License.
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Level 1: Animate My Story
Category: Scratch Coding
In this course, your students will learn basic programming skills by using Scratch to build an animated story of their choice. You will begin by going over the building blocks of a story while students identify and explore the fundamental aspects of good storytelling. Next, your students will become storytellers by conceptualizing and designing a story of their own. Finally, through a combination of instructor modeling and individual experimentation, students will bring their story to life in Scratch. By the end of this course, you and your students will understand important computer science concepts like algorithms, sequencing, and loops. They will also leave the course with a thorough understanding of the Scratch platform and the knowledge they need to continue coding and creating in Scratch.
Recommended Grades: 3-8
The overview document for this course has all the lesson plans, slide decks, and supporting materials linked to it. The overview also provides:
– Learning targets,
– Vocabulary,
– Material preparation, and
– is tied to the Virginia Computer Science Standards of Learning and the CSTA K-12 Standards
Sample Programs
Below are sample Scratch programs for this course. Click on the link to see the project in Scratch. Feel free to remix or download it.
Level 2: Code Your Own Adventure (CYOA)
Download the Overview document which contains links to downloadable versions of each lesson including slides, worksheets and other collateral.
Level 3: Build Games in Scratch
Category: Scratch Coding, Scratch Physical Computing (Optional)
The curriculum for this level 3 Scratch course will show you how to teach your students to build video games in Scratch. Throughout the lesson, students will explore classic platformer video games like Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong, and review the skills they learned in “Animate My Story” and “Code Your Own Adventure.” You and your students will then learn advanced game-making concepts like player movement, interacting with objects, level design, and keeping score. These lessons and activities encourage students to show their creativity and individuality by incorporating visual design into their Scratch video games. At the end of class, your students will have a multilevel, platform-style video game with Scratch. If you would like to add physical computing to the course, we have included a module in which students use circuits and buttons to create a game controller.
Recommended Grades: 3-8
Teacher Guide
Overview (PDF) (Google Doc)
Schedules (PDF) (Google Doc) – proposed schedules for teaching modules in 10 week one hour sessions and for a 5 day summer camp
Complete Teacher’s Guide (PDF) (Google Doc)
Slides
Slide decks for the course. Available for download so you can edit the sides to suit your needs
Google Slides for in-person and online classes
In-Person Virtual
Worksheets and other materials
Resource for the Game Scratch Course
Scratch Projects
Category: Scratch Coding, Scratch Physical Computing (Optional)
Looking for extra material, ways to extend a lesson or just need some standalone projects? Below are materials and sample projects.
| Project | Google Doc | Sample Code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adaption and the Environment | Sample on Scratch | ||
| Frogger math | Sample on Scratch | ||
| Ghosts and Wizards | Open Google Doc | Download PDF | Sample on Scratch |
| Pong Game | Open google Doc | ||
| Mad Libs | Open google Doc |
Level 5: Getting Started In Python (Python 1)
Frequently introductory classes are boring and spend lots of time writing short pieces of code that produce statements like Hello World. In the first class girls dive and use Python to create art.
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world – it is used by many well-known tech companies including Wikipedia, …Google, Yahoo!, NASA, Facebook, Amazon, and Spotify. In this course, students will learn coding and computational thinking using Python syntax. Students will encounter important coding concepts like loops, variables, and lists while they use Python to build a drawing application that creates a work of art. In addition to coding, interested students will have a chance to express their creativity through visual design. If your learner is ready for Python, this class will give them foundational knowledge and skills while having fun.
Recommended Grades: 6-8
Lesson 1
Python 1 Teachers Guide(Google Doc)
Python 1 Slides (Google Doc)
Level 6: Code Your Own Adventure in Python (Python 2)
If you’ve completed an Introduction to Python with Boolean Girl, you are ready to apply your current skills and learn new skills as you build a challenging text adventure in Python. Part game, part story, a code your own adventure program is inspired by the famous Choose Your Own Adventure book series in which the reader makes decisions that affect the steps and outcome of the story.
In this Python version, students will review concepts from the previous course and learn how to implement new concepts like conditionals, functions, and user input. Students will demonstrate and celebrate their problem solving skills and perseverance as they build a custom user-driven adventure in Python.
Recommended Grades: 6-8
Lesson 1
Python 2 – Teachers Guide(Google Doc)
Python 2- Slides (Google Doc)
Python Projects
To further the skills and extend the lessons about the following projects are recommended.
Python Turtle Race
Recommended Grades: 6-8
Lesson 1
Python Turtle Race – Teachers Guide(Google Doc)
Python Turtle Race – Slides (Google Doc)
Python Turtle Race example files ( Zip File)
Level 1: Crafty Circuits, Intro to micro:bit
Category: Physical Computing
The curriculum for this level 1 Physical computing course introduces the micro:bit.
Recommended Grades: 3-8
Lesson 1
Lesson 1 Teachers Guide(Google Doc)
Lesson 1 Slides (Google Doc)
Support Materials for DC Public Schools Enchanted City
Videos and other materials on building simple circuits for the DC Public Schools Enchanted City project.
Video – A Simple Light Circuit using the Boolean Girl Kit
Video – Enhancing the Light Circuit
Video – Adding the circuit to a building
Presentation – Oct 8 Training Materials
Circuit building Short Cut Card
Video – Wiring Smart Building with Micro:bit Base kit.
Presentation – Smart Home building with Micro:Bit Base kit
Support Materials for DC Public Schools Paper Circuit Art!
Videos and other materials for using Paper Circuit Art in class.
Instructions:
Build day PaperCircuits April 2023
Video – Build a paper circuit art using the Boolean Girl Kit – coming soon.
Template (PDF) for paper circuit art. Best for printing.
Template (Powerpoint) for paper circuit art. If you want to make edits and take matters into your own hands. There are challenges with printing!