Within the Teacher Guide, each segment concludes with a Check for Understanding, providing the teacher with a quick opportunity for formative assessment. At the end of this unit Introduction, you will find a blank Pacing Guide, which you may use to plan how you might pace the lessons. We strongly recommend that you preview the unit in full before beginning instruction. This will help you prepare your pacing guide before teaching the first lesson.

The unit Designing Computer Programs provides students the opportunity to explore concepts that include the following:

• How do we conceptualize the transmission of digital messages?
• What are the best methods and tools for collecting data?
• How can we organize data to reveal patterns?
• What is a decision tree?
• How can we instruct a computer to do simple tasks?
• How can execute coding fundamentals to complete a task?
• How do we organize events, sequences, conditions, and loops?
• What is a copyright and why is it important?
• How do we design, test, and revise a computer program?
• How does computer technology affect our lives?

CKSci is informed by the NGSS, which encourages student learning through hands-on activities and collecting data. This activity-centered approach requires, at times, that schools collect or purchase materials and equipment that will be needed to complete activities.

Complete materials supply list for CKSci Unit 7: Designing Computer Programs