Code.Org Discoveries (Middle School Curriculum)
- Please go to Code.Org/join and enter the following code to join the class:
- Once you have joined the class, please complete the student pre-course survey!
Objective
In this lesson students apply the problem solving process to three
different problems in order to better understand the value of each step.
They will solve a word search, arrange seating for a birthday party,
and plan a trip. The problems grow increasingly complex and poorly
defined to highlight how the problem solving process is particularly
helpful when tackling these types of problems. The lesson concludes with
students reflecting on their experience with the problem solving
process. They will justify the inclusion of each step and will
brainstorm questions or strategies that can help them better define
open-ended problems, as this is often the most critical step.
This lesson will likely take two class periods or more to complete. The
first two problems may fit into a single class period but the third will
need to be moved to a second day.
Purpose
This lesson provides students with more practice with the problem
solving process in a variety of contexts. It highlights the fact that
the problem solving process is particularly helpful when approaching
poorly defined problems. The final brainstorm of the lesson provides
students with some strategies and questions they can ask to better
define problems for themselves, since this is often the most critical
step. The problems seen in this lesson also help to drive a discussion
in the following lesson about the types of problems that computers are
well-suited to solve.
Agenda
- Warm Up (5 min)
- Setting the Stage
- Activity (75 min)
- Solving Problems
- Wrap Up (20 min)
- Understanding the Problem Solving Process
CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards
AP - Algorithms & Programming
- 1B-AP-08 - Compare and refine multiple algorithms for the same task and determine which is the most appropriate.
- 1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program development process.
- 1B-AP-13 - Take on varying roles, with teacher guidance, when collaborating with peers during the design, implementation and review stages of program development.
