Coding Curriculum: Upper Elementary School
Project #1: Writing and Coding
Writing Code for a Written Story
These coding skills will allow students to bring their written stories to life.
For each session I recommend a 5 minute mini-lesson introducing the new skills (I Do) followed by students demonstrating the skills using a SMART board or projector while you are with them on the carpet for 3-5 minutes (We Do) and ending with 30 minutes of the children working in pairs or independently (You Do) while you circulate and assist. I recommend placing a check next to skills once a student has demonstrated mastery. This will help you assess which students need small-group instruction.
I have served as an elementary school teacher for 8 years in public, public/charter and private schools. I grew up in small towns all over the U.S.A. I moved from London, UK to San Francisco, CA, my 20th move, to teach students how to write, type and code their own innovative stories and video games at a school started by the Chief Scientist of Twitter. I wrote the Scratch coding curriculum from scratch and led professional development on elementary school coding with teachers.
My students created Rube Goldberg machines and used design thinking to create new products. My students put on an art sale for Action Against Hunger and learned about hunger issues facing children around the world. They coded an advertisement for this which was broadcast to the whole school and they sold out in 15 minutes.
I am pursuing a Ph.D programs in education and started a tutoring service focused on teaching children how to code stories and video games. I enjoy traveling, boogie boarding and reading in my free time.
