The Hour of Code at St. Michael’s School 2nd- 6th Elementary students Ms. J. Losada- Computer Teacher
The Hour of Code at St. Michael’s School The week for The Hour of Code according with their promotors in code.org was from Dec. 8 - 12, 2014. We began earlier (about 3 or 4 weeks before) working with code, using a PPT to explain the students what CODE means, asking them if they know some codes and working with that codes. (We gave Lower Elementary students simple explanations, and more detailed for Upper Elementary students) We did different activities according with the grade level.
Coding Computer class Ms. J. Losada
PPT to explain concepts
Code
PPT to explain concepts
What are "codes"? • A code is an organized system of signs. • Codes are the rules and conventions about how you combine signs, how signs relate to each other. (Remember that signs can be words or images, but also behaviors, or concepts such as metaphors.)
• Language is a code. • So is… … the system of highway signage, … the system for classifying plants, … the system for classifying books in a Library, … computer algorithms, … and etiquette.
PPT to explain concepts
• Math has code: 4 x 9 = 36
PPT to explain concepts
Dewey’s code for Library books
• a code structures the way people act in church; • how one plays the piano or soccer; • when/how/what you eat; • how a person gets dressed, • makes a phone call, • argues with a family member, ..... on and on.
PPT to explain concepts
In fact codes govern every aspect of our lives:
PPT to explain concepts
It is amazing how many codes there are in any culture, and that even young children come to understand their complexities and get upset when they aren't followed.
PPT to explain concepts
Humans organize life in nested codes: small codes that fit into larger and larger ones. For example: • Alphabet letters are arranged using codes to form words, • which are arranged by grammatical codes into sentences, • which are arranged by semantic codes into paragraphs, • which are arranged by rhetoric codes into essays, • which are arranged by performance codes into a presentation.
PPT to explain concepts
• A code provides the frame, the rules for how one understands and behaves in a particular environment. • Action chains (culturally defined sequences of actions) are also codes.
PPT to explain concepts
Morse Code is a method of transmitting text information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment.
PPT to explain concepts
Braille Code Braille is a code that presents written information. It is equivalent to print. The alphabet, numbers, music notation, and any other symbol that appears in print can be replicated in Braille by arranging combinations of the six dots of the Braille cell. Braille is read by touch, usually using the first finger on one or both hands.
Barcode is an optical machinereadable representation of data relating to the object to which it is attached. Originally barcodes systematically represented data by varying the widths and spacing of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or one-dimensional
PPT to explain concepts
Barcode
PPT to explain concepts
The system of international maritime signal flags is one system of flag signals representing individual letters of the alphabet in signals to or from ships. It is a component of the International Code of Signals (ICS)
PPT to explain concepts
QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode first designed for the automotive industry in Japan. The QR Code system has become popular outside the automotive industry due to its fast readability and greater storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes. Applications include product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management, general marketing, and much more. A QR code consists of black modules (square dots) arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device (such as a camera) and processed using Reed– Solomon error correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted; data is then extracted from patterns present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image
PPT to explain concepts
Binary code represents text or computer processor instructions using the binary number system's two binary digits, 0 and 1. A binary code assigns a bit string to each symbol or instruction. For example, a binary string of eight binary digits (bits) can represent any of 256 possible values and can therefore correspond to a variety of different symbols, letters or instructions. The 8 bits, are a byte.
Letter
ASCII Code
a
097
b
Binary
Letter
ASCII Code
Binary
01100001
A
065
01000001
098
01100010
B
066
01000010
c
099
01100011
C
067
01000011
d
100
01100100
D
068
01000100
e
101
01100101
E
069
01000101
f
102
01100110
F
070
01000110
g
103
01100111
G
071
01000111
h
104
01101000
H
072
01001000
i
105
01101001
I
073
01001001
j
106
01101010
J
074
01001010
k
107
01101011
K
075
01001011
l
108
01101100
L
076
01001100
m
109
01101101
M
077
01001101
n
110
01101110
N
078
01001110
o
111
01101111
O
079
01001111
p
112
01110000
P
080
01010000
q
113
01110001
Q
081
01010001
r
114
01110010
R
082
01010010
s
115
01110011
S
083
01010011
t
116
01110100
T
084
01010100
u
117
01110101
U
085
01010101
v
118
01110110
V
086
01010110
w
119
01110111
W
087
01010111
x
120
01111000
X
088
01011000
y
121
01111001
Y
089
01011001
z
122
01111010
Z
090
01011010
PPT to explain concepts
ASCII - Binary Character Table
ACTIVITY #1
We wrote some messages using different codes, and in partners they decode and wrote the messages.
ACTIVITY #2
Activity #2 Talk Something Different We made some letters in construction paper to write: Talk Something Different, and paste them in a big board next to the classroom
We wrote the instructions for the activity And we print the key of different codes
We had a box with papers of different colors and sizes; a cup with pencils and markers, and masking tape in a little table next to the board.
We told them that they were going to do their code work in the computer, and at the same time we would be sending them in groups of 2 or 3; they had to read and follow instructions. We were taking pictures while students wrote messages using the codes. 6th grade writing CODES
They filled up the board with the messages, they enjoy the activity‌ and we enjoy it too!!!!
• In a world where kids are born with smartphones in their hands and iPads in their cribs, computer programming is becoming the new literacy. • And though the number of coding jobs in America is set to grow 30% by 2020 (twice the rate of general job growth), understanding programming concepts—or even knowing a bit of code—will be important to almost any job of the future.
PPT to explain concepts
Why You Need To Know Code
PPT to explain concepts
Why You Need To Know Code • Knowing some coding can help you with the thinking skills you need later in life. • Knowing more coding will make it more likely you can find a good job in the future. • The need for people who know coding is growing faster… than the number of people who can code...
‌but if you learned how computers work, you may one day avoid losing your job.
PPT to explain concepts
You don't need to know how a computer works in order to use it ‌
ACTIVITY #3
We create some CODES: Move forward Turn left Turn right Start and End
Using this code, we create algorithms to be read by the MACHINE, followed by the ROBOT, and checked by the PROGRAMMER.
These were the algorithm we used
We did that, using the floor tiles for each step, as a grid. The numbers represent how many times they have to do the code, working with the word: LOOP. We stick 2 star in the floor, in front of the computer room. One, to stand up there and start the algorithm. The other was where they have to finish. Some of the algorithms didn't let the students to arrive to the final star; so the programmer needed to correct the error; like this we reinforced the word: DEBUGGING
We explain what is the role of: A ROBOT: to follow instructions A MACHINE: to run (read) a program with instructions A PROGRAMMER: create the program with instructions, and check if the program in working well. And we start doing the 3 roles, walking counting steps using the floor tiles as a grid. Remembering the ROBOT he/she do not think, just do what the MACHINE says; and the PROGRAMMER, checking that everything is OK
4th grade learning how code works on machines
We learn new words
5th grade were checking the codes they made
They learned a lot‌ and they have fun!!!
ACTIVITY #4
ACTIVITY #4 1- Go to the webpage: http://code.org Elementary Courses, and do:
2- Click on: 2nd grade: Flappy Code 3rd grade: Play Lab 4th grade: The Hour of Code 5th grade: The Hour of Code 6th grade: The Hour of Code
3- Begin doing the stages, you may work at your own pace. 4- At the end you will have a Certificate.
Students in all grades, from 2nd to 6th, were very excited working in the computers doing CODE.
2nd graders working on: http:// code.org
As they work, they won a certificate. We saved them and printed. In the Flag ceremony we announced that more than 80% of students from 2nd to 6th grades have a certificate.
3rd grade group
They were very happy with their certificate
3rd grade group
ACTIVITY #5
We announced in the Flag Ceremony in the morning, that we posted around the school: 4 clues using different codes, and the first 15 students that decode the messages and bring them to our classroom, will win a prize. That was very excited, students in Elementary ask their teachers for permission to go to see where the codes were, and decode them. Before the end of the day, we had 17 winners (because the last 5 or 6 came together) with prizes (a ticket to buy at the School Cafeteria). Many other students came, but we had to tell them that it could be next time!
Kids around the World are working The Hour of Code
…and we are here!!!
We enjoyed !!