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Unit of work

Digital flashcards

Computational thinking, Languages, Programming | MakeCode | 7-11 yrs

Lessons summary

This series of five lessons is aimed at pupils aged 7-8 years and builds on the ‘Nature art’ unit. Pupils design sequenced algorithms for flashcards to help them learn a foreign language, developing their understanding of computational thinking. They then write programs to create digital flashcards using the micro:bit and test and evaluate their work.

The lesson sequence comprises:

  1. Unplugged lesson discovering how flashcards work through algorithms
  2. Programming abstracted images on the micro:bit LED display to make digital flashcards
  3. Improving programs by introducing delays and spotting patterns
  4. Experimenting (tinkering) with the MakeCode editor to discover more ways of using the display
  5. Debugging, evaluating and consolidating computing concepts used in this unit.

Learning objectives

  • can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
  • can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
  • can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
  • are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology

Additional skills

Creative thinking, collaboration, problem-solving.

You will need

Downloadable resources:

  • Lesson plan
  • Lesson slides
  • Student handouts
  • HEX files

Other resources:

  • highlighter pens (different colours)
  • paper - large sheets
  • paper - writing
  • student work from previous lesson