Loops Lesson Plan: Computational Thinking

Grade Levels: K-3

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP Jr. topic Loops, and supports the standard of identifying a task consisting of repeated steps. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display a gif showing a real life loop, like the dance in this link.

Explain that when a set of instructions, like a dance, repeats, it’s called a loop. Ask students:

What are some other examples of things that loop, or repeat?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

Play the Loops movie.
Click the pause button each time a question appears in Annie’s Notebook and discuss it as a class. Then play to see how Annie answers it.

TIP: The pause button turns red to remind you to pause.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS

Students take the Easy Quiz or Hard Quiz, demonstrating what they learned about the topic while applying essential literacy skills.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about loops while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student or grade-level needs.

Draw About It: Draw a pattern. Loop it five times.
Activity: Code a dance using loops.
Talk About It: Brainstorm school routines that are loops.
Write About It: Explain how loops make coding easier.

More to Explore

Technology Unit: Continue to build understanding around computer science by exploring more BrainPOP Jr. topics.

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1

Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2

Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4

Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.7

Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1

Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.2

Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.7

Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7

Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.1

With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.4

With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.2

Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.2

Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.2

Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.2

Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6

With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.2

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.6

With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.2

Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.6

With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Filed as: BrainPOP Jr., CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1