Computer Programming Lesson Plan: Computational Thinking
This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Computer Programming, and supports
the standard of decomposing a problem into smaller tasks. Students demonstrate
understanding through a variety of projects.
Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Prompt students to think of a time they explained how to do something to someone,
such as how to play a game or sport, how to get somewhere, etc. Ask:
● Were your instructions clear to others? How do you know?
● If others did not understand, how did you change your directions?
Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE
● Read the description on the Computer Programming topic page.
● Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding.
● Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the articles. Partner them
with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each
other.
Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS
Assign Computer Programming Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply
essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.
Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND
Students express what they learned about computer programming while practicing
essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by
assigning ones that meet individual student needs.
● Make-a-Movie: Create a tutorial that answers this question: How could you write
a computer program for an everyday task, like brushing your teeth? What would
be some of your program’s variables, conditions, and outputs?
● Make-a-Map: Design an algorithm for tying your shoes, and have a classmate try
it to test for bugs.
● Creative Coding: Code a game where players sort steps in an algorithm as
variables, conditions, outputs, or bugs.
● Primary Source Activity: Examine and analyze a computer program punch
card.
More to Explore
Computer Science and Coding Unit: Continue to build understanding around
computer programming by exploring more BrainPOP computer science topics.
Blockly: Maze: Build a simple computer application by programming “tag” blocks to
reach your target
Run Marco!: Apply your knowledge of coding to guide Marco through his adventures.
Teacher Support Resources:
● Pause Point Overview: Video tutorial showing how Pause Points actively
engage students to stop, think, and express ideas.
● Learning Activities Modifications: Strategies to meet ELL and other
instructional and student needs.
● Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.