Learn to Code

Innovative Designer

Overview

Programming is teaching the computer to do something. It is a skill that needs to be taught beginning in the elementary as it is a fundamental skill to prepare students for the 21st century workplace.

Students will get the opportunity to program a version of the game “Flappy Bird” using simple drag and drop programming to make connections between computer science concepts and the real world.

Showing the students how to use the application will take 15-20 minutes. The teacher will want to have several class periods for the students to use the application to adequately have them learn how to do basic coding.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Be able to use problem-solving to program their own version of the game “Flappy Bird” using simple drag and drop programming called Blockly on the code.org website.
Be able to collaborate with a partner to create a game.
Be able to share this game with others so they can play the game.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words:

Coding: Coding is writing instructions for a computer.
Program: A program is an algorithm that has been coded into something that can be run by a machine.
Debugging: Debugging is finding and fixing problems in your program.

Pre-planning

To prepare for this lesson:

Review and complete the Hour of Code online tutorial yourself.
Review the pair programming video.

Accommodations

See the Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students website in the Teacher Resources.

Steps

Directions for this activity:

Discuss coding vocabulary with students. Get them excited about creating their very own video game. They may be familiar with “Flappy Bird”. They will have the chance to make their very own game and share it with their friends.
Students should be paired up with a partner and view the pair programming video to understand the driver/navigator approach.
Students should go to the website https://studio.code.org/flappy/1 and watch the tutorial.
The final screen gives them a share code that they can give to friends and family to share the game they made.

Assessment Options

Different options for assessing the students:

Observations
Check for understanding
Students share their game with the teacher to show what they created.

MITECS COMPETENCIES & ISTE STANDARDS

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.I

Innovative Designer
4a. Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
4b. Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
4d. Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.