The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the concept of coding through unplugged activities that require students to (1) give directions, (2) listen and follow directions, and (3) understand and apply knowledge of directional vocabulary such as right, left, up, down, in, out, above, and below. Through the unplugged coding activity, students will create an algorithm, or sequence steps, to complete a maze to gain the skills of completing a task by breaking down a task into smaller steps.The connection with computer coding with the activity is to introduce students to the concept that computers follow directions just as we do. We can use code to communicate with a computer in order to give it directions to complete a task. Through a discussion on how a computer understands the code, students can relate the way a computer understands code to how they understood the directions given to them during the activity to complete the maze.
This activity was created as a result of the DLCS Resource Development Summit.
This classroom resource from Epic! is an interactive book that uses modes of transportation to compare the directions near and far. This book introduces emergent readers to opposing spatial directions. It features a read-to-me mode. There is also a glossary included. The reading level is 5-7 years old and the AR level is 0.6.
This classroom resource is a book from Epic! that introduces emergent readers to opposing directions with fun animals. AR level is 0.8. The age range is 5-7 years old. Teachers can choose for this book to be read to students. It also includes a glossary.
This classroom activity is an interactive book from Epic! that introduces emergent readers to opposing spatial directions they see every day. The age range is 5-7 years old. The AR level is 0.9. The book includes a glossary.
