Lesson Ideas

Binary

Want to learn computer-speak? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby teach you all about the binary system, the language of computers! Discover how binary differs from the base-10 number system that us humans tend to use (with the numbers 0 through 9) and why computers find it much easier to stick with binary. You’ll also see what binary has to do with switches as well as how, exactly, to read binary or create a number using the binary system. Zeroes and ones all day long — what fun!

Alan Turing Lesson Plan: Crack a Secret Code

NOTE TO EDUCATORS: This movie contains content about the mistreatment of homosexuals in 1950s England. Due to the sensitivity of this topic, consider previewing the movie before showing it to the class.

In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 3-12, students explore BrainPOP resources to learn about Alan Turing, an English mathematician who during World War II led a team in designing a computer that was able to decode thousands of German messages, saving countless Allied lives. In this lesson, student will put their decoding skills to the test as they work together to crack a secret message from Turing himself. Then they’ll create their own secret codes for classmates to solve. This lesson plan is aligned to Common Core State Standards.  See more »

Computer Coding Lesson Plan: Blockly Maze Game

In this lesson plan which is adaptable for grades 3-12, students use BrainPOP resources (including an online game) to explore computer coding, algorithms, and programming. This lesson plan is aligned to Common Core State Standards.  See more »

Logo Programming Game Lesson Plan: Turtle Academy

In this lesson plan which is adaptable for grades 3-8, students use BrainPOP resources (including an online game) to explore the popular computer programming language Logo. This lesson plan is aligned to Common Core State Standards.  See more »

Creative Programming Lesson Plan: 15 Blocks Game

In this lesson plan which is adaptable for grades 3-12, students use BrainPOP resources (including an online game) to learn about programming. Through the game Tynker: 15 Blocks Challenge, students will create a simple computer app using no more than 15 blocks. This lesson plan is aligned to Common Core State Standards.  See more »

Computer Programming Basics Lesson Plan: Tynker Games

In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-12, students use BrainPOP resources (including online coding games) to learn about computer programming. This lesson plan is aligned to Common Core State Standards.  See more »

Math Skills Lesson Plan: It’s All Fun and Games

In this lesson plan which is adaptable for grades 3-12, students work collaboratively to research selected math skills. Students then create, play, and assess a math game that is designed to apply and reinforce their selected math concept. This lesson plan is aligned to Common Core State Standards.  See more »
Comments
  • Jan Trojanowski

    Great variety of programming sites as options to learn code! I appreciate the adaptations for grade level.

  • Greg Moon

    I like the lesson ideas for “Computer Coding Lesson Plan: Blockly Maze Game”. Often lessons merely ask kids to play games, and then “hope” they learn something through inference or endless trial-and-error without respect to coding design concepts. The ideas in this particular lesson ask a little more of students than some of the coding activities I see when I visit classrooms in my role as an instructional coach.

  • Marcos Padilha

    Although I like the content in here, I do miss some content more directly related to binary, instead of general computer programming content. A game to practice binary to decimal conversion (and vice versa) would fit perfectly in here.