Students will apply their knowledge of characterization by coding a sample character’s thought, actions, and words.
Lesson credit to Google CS First Curriculum

Students need to check the accuracy of what they see on the Internet. Young children will especially have a difficult time knowing what is real or fake. Netsmartzkids has an excellent video for students to watch and learn how to fact check.

This activity assumes that students have some familiarity with using the Chrome browser, most likely a Chromebook before (probably in a previous grade). Using a simple KWL chart on a Google Doc, students can collaborate and acquire shortcuts for using a Chromebook (or just the Chrome browser) more efficiently.

Google Scholar Citations provide a simple way for students to keep track of citations to their articles. When students are using Google Docs to write their papers, they can easily link and cite the articles used for references.

Zoterobib also known as Zbib is a free online tool that helps you cite anything from any device. Students are able to copy and paste a title or a book, website, photo, etc and Zbib will easily cite the source. Students can then copy and paste the bibliography into their work.

Classkick is a free online site that lets teachers create and share assignments. As students work from iPads or Chromebooks, teachers can monitor them and give feedback in real time. Teachers can also create rosters via class code, enter manually, or use Google Classroom.

This is a virtual online bank for your classroom. The teacher creates and manages a savings account for the students. Each student can actually log in to their account and make withdrawals or deposits.

Boomwriter is an interactive group story writing website. Students will improve their creative story writing skills by collaborating with their classmates. They will read the first chapter and then finish the story.

Classroom Economy is a program that teachers can use for free to teach students financial responsibility. This is a classroom economic system where students “rent” their desks, learn the value of earning a paycheck, budget their spending, save money, spend money, make deposits, withdrawals, etc.

Teachers are able to use this Classroom Screen in their classroom in a variety of ways. There are 21 widgets to support class activities and help students focus and get to work.

Cleanopolis VR is a game that students can play to learn more about the environment and fight against climate change. The game does not have to be played with 3D technology, but it will enhance the experience. Cleanopolis has both an Android and iOS version.

The Code-a-Pillar teaches the basics of coding, using sequencing and programming, with segments of the caterpillar's body. Each of the eight segments is labeled with different symbols and colors. The students will put them together, attach them to the caterpillar's smiling, blinky-eyed, motorized head, and press a button to get the whole toy to move.

The students will learn coding skills with Colby, the programmable robot mouse. The students build a maze with the 16 maze grids, a 20" x 20" maze board, 22 maze wall and three tunnels that are provided in the kit. The students will program the sequence of steps and Colby will race to find the cheese. There are also 30 double-sided coding cards, 10 double-sided activity cards, a cheese wedge, and an activity guide to provide the perfect hands-on introduction to coding concepts. You can even add Jack the programmable robot mouse to race Colby!

Students enjoy teaching others. In fact, research says that when students teach others their own learning increases. QR codes are a way for students to teach community members about their local community.

So you have robots...now what? How do you manage them? These coding punch cards can be customized and used to offer students activity choices while managing your learning environment.

Dash and Dot are robots that can sense, act and think! Coding with robots is great fun!! Students use block coding iPad apps to control their robots. Students will have a ball designing, testing theories and refining their code to create paths for the robots to follow.

Code Monkey is an engaging coding program for students starting at preschool. Students will help an adorable monkey get his bananas back from a greedy gorilla who stole them. As students progress, they will meet other characters like a trusty turtle, who will help them with challenging problems. Each answer students submit will be graded automatically giving students instant feedback.

Coding is a skill that all students need for 21st century careers. There are many neat new programs that teach the foundation for programming. The programs use blocks with commands that students connect together to achieve the goal.

Scratch Jr. is an app where children can program their own stories and games. They learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively.

In this online game, Coin Bubble by Greg Tang Math, students make a given monetary figure using a ten frame of coins. Students work with higher value denominations as the game progresses. In addition, students can use exchanges to get to their figure faster.