Year 4 Resources
Computer Science Strand
- Group 1: Computational Thinking
- Group 2: Coding
- Group 3: Digital Literacy
- Group 4: Digital Citizenship
Group 1: Computational Thinking
- Using Conditional Formatting in Google Sheets to Support Students' Understanding of Decimals in a 5th Grade Classroom
- Computational Thinking with Astronomy Data
- Enhancing Data Visualization Skills in Fifth Grade Astronomy
Using Conditional Formatting in Google Sheets to Support Students' Understanding of Decimals in a 5th Grade Classroom
Alana Suggs, Honeoye Central School District
Standards addressed: 4-6.CT.1, 5.NBT.1, 5.NBT.3
Grade(s): 5
Subject(s): Math
Students learned to format a pixel art design using conditional formatting. After completing their design, they identified the fraction and decimal of each color used to practice writing decimals to the hundredths place.
Computational Thinking with Astronomy Data
Nicole Lofton, Red Jacket Elementary/Manchester-Shortsville CSD
Standards addressed: 5-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-2, 4-6.CT.3, 4-6.CT.4
Grade(s): 5
Subject(s): Science
Students begin each lesson by observing, questioning, examining, and analyzing various data visualizations that relate to the content taught within the science lesson.
Enhancing Data Visualization Skills in Fifth Grade Astronomy
Blayne Pierce, Manchester-Shortsville CSD
Standards addressed: 5-PS2-1, 5-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-2, 4-6.CT.3, 4-6.CT.4
Grade(s): 5
Subject(s): Science
Students examine data visualizations relating to astronomy topics and break apart the visualization to make sense of them. Each visualization was used as an anticipatory set for the main content lesson of our district's astronomy unit.
Group 2: Coding
- TinkerCad and Roof Building
- Block Coding with the Blockly App and Dash Robots
- Exploring Loops
- Snowman Coding with Bee-Bots
TinkerCad and Roof Building
Amanda Harris, Canandaigua Elementary School
Standards addressed: 2.3.IC.3, 2.3.IC.4, 2.3.CT.1, 2.3.DL.1, 2.3.DL.4
Grade(s): 3
Subject(s): Science
The culminating activity for our first Smithsonian Science Unit is to use data to determine what roofing shape and material their soccer stadium should have. Starting with google docs and ending with tinkercad.com, I scaffolded their experience to build and create their roof in a 3D model.
Additional Resources
Block Coding with the Blockly App and Dash Robots
Michelle Feltham, York Elementary School
Standards addressed: 2-3.CT.6, 2-3.CT.9, 2-3NSD.3
Grade(s): 2/3
Subject(s): Coding
Students used block coding within the Blockly app to program Dash robots to do a variety of tasks. Tasks included: moving forward, moving backward, turning 90 degrees, illuminating their lights, saying hello and doing a dance.
Exploring Loops
Jamie Pentland, Red Jacket Middle School
Standards addressed: 7-8.CT.8
Grade(s): 7
Subject(s): Math
Students explored the ideas of loops using both "unplugged" and digital activities. Unplugged activities included having students follow a looped dance routine and following a series of repeated instructions. The digital activity had students using block coding to solve puzzles using loops.
Snowman Coding with Bee-Bots
Amy Rothermel/Jill Clingersmith, Canandaigua City School District
Standards addressed: K-1.CT.4, K-1.CT.5, K-1.CT.6, K-1.CT.8
Grade(s): Kindergarten
Subject(s): Coding
Students programmed Bee-Bots to "pick up" three parts of a snowman — head, middle, and bottom — by creating and testing step-by-step codes.
Additional Resources
Group 3: Digital Literacy
- Using Google Slides to Review Algebra Concepts
- Computer Science and Digital Fluency Across the Curriculum-Connecting Through Special Areas at the Early Childhood Level
Using Google Slides to Review Algebra Concepts
Clarissa Hensler, Honeoye Central School
Standards addressed: 7-8.DL.4, 7-8.DL.2, AI-A.SSE.3C, AI-A.CED.1, AI-A.REI.11, AI-F.IF.4, AI-F.LE.1
Grade(s): 8
Subject(s): Algebra
Students working with a peer to review key concepts in our exponential function unit in Google Slides. They created visual problems, examples, as well as definitions/ways to remember concepts for their peers in Google Slides.
Computer Science and Digital Fluency Across the Curriculum-Connecting Through Special Areas at the Early Childhood Level
Jean Ritter-Gaylord, Skoi-Yase Primary School Waterloo CSD
Standards addressed:
Grade(s): PK-2
Subject(s): Art Interdisciplinary
A snapshot of CS & DF and the Arts standards based lessons that provided background knowledge and experiences needed to design and create our own BeeBot mats. Includes a lesson plan for a BeeBot Mat design on Companion Planting in a Square Foot Garden that integrates with Agricultural Literacy. Also includes a link to a PowerPoint with multidisciplinary standards that have been simplified through AI for ease of use.
Additional Resources
- Professional Art Organizations Statements on STEAM: NAEA Position Statement on STEAM Education • National Art Education Association
- nysata steam position purpose.pdf
- Arts Integration & STEAM | Professional Development & Lessons
- Great resource for getting started with Beebots-easy to adapt lessons to any theme or subject: beebot-earlylearningactivityguide.pdf
Group 4: Digital Citizenship
Staying Safe Online
Daniel Kim, North Rose-Wolcott Elementary School
Standards addressed: 2-3.CY.1, 2-3.CY.2, 2-3.CY.3, 2-3.DL.6, 2-3.DL.7
Grade(s): 3
Subject(s): Cybersecurity/Cyber Bullying
Students learn to stay safe online by understanding what information to share and how to behave online. Students observe different social media posts and messages that may or may not give away too much private information.
Additional Resources
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MCVlURgmsRIq_uQ_xLkd1wgeJaVDozXp/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ygZzV_o4_7u4ZIy_9nt5LaRJkH-pWgaH/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FIJixPuXqzlAtK38RTcUW9FJB86uYqgK/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eI_wIR8LQ9fbxceW9NeuJgb_fPENaKe3/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EBJlcP9ElEmTxjrqrxvdIkIPo8DlBb8m/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wy5wyl8VL8GX9eKkZb7uLGQO6sxL0nL4/view?usp=drive_link
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rI8LLfyQpTvKA8Epx07AxhnZOL2Ipu5A/view?usp=drive_link
- https://zeoob.com/
- https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/online-id.html
Staying Safe on the Internet en français
Penny Hensler, Honeoye Central School
Standards addressed: 7.8CY 1 and 2
Grade(s): 8
Subject(s): French
My French 8 students did a unit on technology which focused on how to stay safe on the internet. Students worked with a Sentence Builder and practiced the vocabulary that is associated with using technology safely. They were then able to read and talk about authentic resources about staying safe on the internet.
Additional Resources
- Unit plan with links to all activities and Sentence Builder here
Digital Privacy
Dale Carrigan, Red Jacket Middle School
Standards addressed: 7.8.IC.4, 7-8.CY.1
Grade(s): 7
Subject(s): Science
My students and I did a lesson on digital privacy. This was more of an exploratory discussion based lesson to assess what kids knew about digital privacy and introduce them into some new topics and ideas. Also I was hoping to open their eyes to some key issues and give them some tools to help protect their online privacy.
Engineering Strand
- Jell-O Earthquake STEM Challenge
- The Egg Drop
- Cinderella's Carriage
- A Bad Case of Stripes Density Challenge
Jell-O Earthquake STEM Challenge
Alyssa Zacharias, Canandaigua City School District
Standards addressed: 4-ESS3-2: Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
Grade(s): 4
Subject(s): Science and Engineering
Design a model building that will experience minimal effects from Earthquakes. Carry out an investigation to test the model and its component structures during simulated Earthquakes.
Additional Resources
The Egg Drop
Casey Gross, Canandaigua City School District
Standards addressed: 4-PS3-4, 4-PS3-3, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3
Grade(s): 4, but can be tailored for K-12
Subject(s): Science
In this EDP students will plan, design and craft a structure to protect their egg from cracking, when it is dropped from an average height. Students will work on planning, designing and crafting this design using the EDP process and underlying science practices for a fun activity!
Additional Resources
Cinderella's Carriage
Joanna Samar, North Rose-Wolcott Central School District
Standards addressed: ETS1A, ETS1B, ETS1C, P-PS2-1, PK.SCI.10, PK.SC1.11, K-1.CT.6, K-1.DL.4, PK.AL.2, PK.AL.3, PK.AL.5, PK.AL.6, PK.ELAL.5 (PKR.1), PK.ELAL.23(PKSL.5), PK.ELAL.24 (PKSL.6), PK.MATH.10 (PK.MD.1)
Grade(s): UPK
Subject(s): Computer Science
UPK students help Cinderella’s stuck carriage! They need to develop a push or pull to help move her carriage back to her home.
Additional Resources
- Lesson Plan
- Lesson Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cKZDy7NpTTbgcx1KFuJ8GhllZqSs-Z-JmLOknI2nvdI/edit?usp=drive_link
- Checklist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oTQ9IcIrJgf2SrecWZD6-C91f37GlH7e/view?usp=sharing
- Student Planning Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13l2a6qcN6hB_nOuRWz38eMUor08MD37X/view?usp=sharing
A Bad Case of Stripes Density Challenge
Meagan Pentycofe, North Rose-Wolcott Central School District
Standards addressed: ETS1A, ETS1B, ETS1C, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-4, 4- ESS3-1
Grade(s): 4
Subject(s): ELA/Science
Students read A Bad Case of Stripes. Afterwards, we use the Engineering Design Process to work through a density challenge of using a variety of liquids to recreate Camilla’s striped face. This is a 3-day challenge, about 30-40 minutes a day, to complete with a whole class.
Additional Resources