Computer Programming Unit 1 - Basic Computing Concepts 

Big ideas ● Understand how computers work

● Understand that a computer program is a sequence of instructions written in a programming
language designed to perform a task
● Understand the roles of computers, programmers and users

Enduring ● Identify the path that information takes as it moves through a computer
understandings (input - processing -output)
● Understand the differences between consuming information from a computer (being a user)
and programming a computer (being a programmer)
● Understand that computers are machines that follow particular sets of instructions in
sequence
● Understand that computers are very powerful but they need to be programmed by a human
● Understand and articulate that computers are run by code

General Description This unit introduces how computers function and how they process commands. Students will
understand that computers are only following given instructions. By going through several exercises,
students will demonstrate the computer’s way of thinking and learn how to instruct a computer well.
Students will also start using Scratch.

Final Project Theme, Express yourself through programming

Inspiration, or other
Real-World connection

Final Project Prompt For the unit 1 final project, students will play with the new platform and familiarize themselves with
the interface, with Scratch, and the block-connecting programming environment. Students will build
an interactive collage project in Scratch.

What do potential Basic Level: Intermediate Level:

completed final projects About Me Project About Me Project + New project
look like
● Stick with the About Me project shown in ● Ask students to finish the project (About
 Learning Activity #5
● Show them some examples on ​Scratch
About Me Studio
● Have students document how they
develop their projects, focusing on what
they struggled with and how they solved
the problems
Me) shown in Learning Activity #5 first.
● Give them different themes that they can
work on, such as, ​Three things about my
neighborhood, My favorite foods, 3 things
that I love to do, My dream job and why,
About the places that I want to go​, etc. You
can also have the students use topics and
themes that they are working on in other
classes.
● Require students to use/add at least 3-4
new blocks or features for the new project
● Have students document how they
developed their projects, focusing on the
kinds of new things that they found

Goals of the Unit Goal #1 Think Like A Computer Programmer | ​Learning Activities 1-3

Students will step into the programming world by learning and discussing the roles of a computer, a
user, and a computer programmer. Throughout several activities, students will understand how
computers process information, and how to communicate with a computer as a computer
programmer.

Goal #2 Get Started with Scratch | ​Learning Activity 4

Students will begin to use Scratch. They will become familiar with the new platform by
accomplishing challenges and exploring other Scratch projects in the scratch.mit.edu site. In
addition, students will start the Design Journal.

Goal #3 Create a simple project with Scratch | ​Learning Activity 5 - Final Project

Students will complete a project under a specific topic. This will be the first Scratch project in which
students will go through the entire design process, from an idea to a working project.
General Overview of 1. Discuss the roles of computers, programmers and users
Learning Activities ● Exercise #1: General Opening Questions About Computers
One row for each activity ● Exercise #2: Discuss the roles of a user and a computer programmer

2. How computers process information?

● Exercise #1: Brainstorm how daily digital devices take and process information

3. Design sets of instructions for literal-minded machines

● Exercise #1: Drawing from instructions
● Exercise #2: Give and Follow Instructions
● Exercise #3: Describe how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich

4. Get started with Scratch

● Exercise #1: Opening discussion
● Exercise #2: Intro to Scratch: Create Something Surprising!
● Exercise #3: 10 Block Challenge

5. Build an interactive collage project in Scratch (Final Project of the Unit)

● Unit 1 Final Project: Create “About Me” project

Provide an exhaustive ● What can we do with computers?

list of questions ● What kind of tasks are computers best suited for?
students could be able ● What can computers do better than humans?
to answer as they learn ● What can we do better than computers?
this concept. ● What is the difference between a digital device that is just for the consumption of
information and one that the user can interact with and “have a conversation with”?
● What is a role of computer programmer?
● How does a computer process information?
● What kind of programming blocks are there in Scratch? Can you explain at least 3 of them?

Standards ● CSTA: CT.L2-07, 08