Computational Thinking and Coding Resources for Primary Schools

Hello Ruby resources

Computational Thinking for Primary Students from Linda Lukas of Hello Ruby fame has made a number of great resources to support teachers in computational thinking.  Available on her website are posters (see link to one below), videos and lesson plans.

Love Letters from Computers ( for Teachers) is a free resource including a series of videos, resources, classroom materials and a teacher journal that will help you plan how to integrate computer science into your curriculum for children in kindergarten and first years of primary school.

Computer Science in 60 secs series ( for students ) is a series of 30 videos introducing big ideas of computer science (in one minute or so). The self-paced videos are followed by an activity the kids can complete at home.

Clickview video resources

Great news  - all CEDP school have a subscription to ClickView and that means you have access to this great new series on Coding!

Teach your students how to code

Make teaching coding easy with ClickView’s new series for Year 3-6 primary students. Algo’s Adventures explores computational language, thinking, and concepts in a fun and interactive way. Each episode includes a student-directed activity booklet featuring unique opportunities for them to engage with coding. The series includes several visually-stunning videos and digital printable resources and lesson plans.

Click Here to View the Series: Let’s get coding!

• EPISODE 1 - What Is a Computer?
• EPISODE 2 -Why Learn Coding?
• EPISODE 3 -Why Do We Need so Many Languages?
• EPISODE 4 -What Is Binary?
• EPISODE 5 -What Are Algorithms?

Planning an Outdoor Classroom using Algorithms and Tinkercad

Recently students in Year 6 of Holy Family Primary School  Granville East were given a challenge.  They were asked to design an outdoor classroom. 

Students used a creative problem-solving methodology that incorporated cross curricular skills in maths, english and science and ICT capabilities in digital technologies to develop 3D designs for the space. 

Throughout the process, students were immersed in utilising their algorithmic knowledge to determine sizes of the entire space and to exclude the sizes of other objects in the space.  From these measurements they were able to start ideating and creating a draft design on grid paper.

To visualise and share this design more authentically, students then used Tinkercad, an online coding and design platform to create a 3D version of the design.

Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use web-based app or iPad app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. It's it provides a space for anyone to create their design by placing, adjusting, and combining objects and shapes.  Students can use Tinkercad to prototype their designs and/or print them in 3D.

The students then created this video documenting and reflecting on their learning.

 Syllabus outcomes

NSW K-6 Science Syllabus - Digital Technologies Strand outcomes met:

• ST3-2DP-T- plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
• ST3-3DP-T -defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions

Resources

• Tinkercad help video on how to create a floor plan in Tinkercad.
• Tinkercad lesson plans
• Digital Technologies Hub - About Tinkercad
• Design based thinking and 3D printing
• NSW Educations Standards Authority Stage 2 STEM Challenge - Creating a Time Capsule (incorporates use of 3D design using Tinkercad)

Other Design applications for creating floorplans

CEDP has the following enterprise applications available for CEDP schools that could also be used.

• Sketchup
• Lucidchart

email lex@parra.catholic.edu.au for more information.