Lessons summary
Four lessons designed for students aged 7-8 years as an introduction to computational thinking and the BBC micro:bit. They learn how to create nature abstractions by taking a nature walk, using art materials and then using the LEDs on micro:bit.
They'll develop an understanding of several key computational thinking concepts, including logical reasoning, abstraction, algorithms and evaluation.
Students then develop their programming and debugging skills and are introduced to working with outputs.
The unit comprises four lessons of approximately 60 minutes each:
1. Creating artistic representation of nature ('Unplugged' lesson - no computers needed)
2. Writing algorithms to create artistic representations of nature ('Unplugged')
3. Planning and programming LED images using the MakeCode editor
4. Planning, programming and evaluating LED representations of nature
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:
- art materials
- cameras (optional)
- MakeCode editor
- micro:bits (optional)
- paper - large sheets
- student work from previous lesson
This content is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) licence.