Computer Science for Kids: A Storytelling Approach

Given at the Computer Science Teachers' Association regional conference, a description of the forthcoming textbook

1. Computer Science for Kids A Storytelling Approach Jen Looper, PhD Head of Academic Advocacy, AWS

2. Why stories?

3. The aesthetic It’s a steamy summer evening, and you struggle to concentrate on the pages of your math homework. The curtains hanging over your open window are completely motionless, as not a breath of air stirs the murky twilight. ... Tonight, the forest is strangely dark , except for that feebly flickering light . Even though your room is too warm for comfort, you feel a cold shiver down your spine. What is that light? It doesn’t look like the fireflies that usually swirl merrily in the dark, flashing their gaudy yellow, white, and sometimes green luminescence. Tonight, the forest has faded to black. ... Where have they gone? And why does that flickering light seem to be pulsing in a pattern now? ...---... You recognize the old Morse code signal: “S.O.S.” It stands for Save our Ship, and it’s a distress signal! Three short flashes, three long flashes, three short flashes. Definitely something is wrong. It’s time to investigate.

4. Why alignment? Aligned to CSTA Level 2 Standards, Grades 6-8 P1. Fostering an Inclusive Computing Culture P2. Collaborating Around Computing P3. Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems P4. Developing and Using Abstractions P5. Creating Computational Artifacts P6. Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts P7. Communicating About Computing

5. Projects Use Micro:bit to build a firefly trapper, turn it into a refuge Use MakeCode to build a game simulating protecting rare moss Learn about data wrangling and SQL to build a library of stones, categorizing geodes Build a virtual 3D world showing strategies to protect a petrified forest grove Use Twine to build a winding story about an underground realm

6. Book format Story setup Do Some Research Think Like a Computer Scientist Sketch It Out Your Challenge Project Recipe Think Like a Programmer Extend Your Knowledge Vocabulary Review Quiz Assignment

7. What we build

8. A hidden curriculum Restore the fireflies! Protect the rare glowing moss Create an inventory of stones in a river bend Build a simulation to protect a grove of petrified trees Create a winding storyline and help the underground realm of mice

9. Supplemental web site https://cs4kids.club Kids' section Teachers' section Transfer learning Vocabulary Assessment Quiz answers More resources Solution code Assignment and Rubric

10. Teachers section https://cs4kids.club Learning outcomes/Goals Differentiated Instruction Forum on GitHub

11. Student feedback Wellesley 8th graders Curious about 'quests' Would like video supplements Enjoyed the project based learning Thought the illustrations were cool! Liked being consulted!

12. Coming soon in 2023! Thank you! Stay tuned at https://cs4kids.club Forthcoming in early 2023 on Amazon from Wiley