Hour of Code: Space Lesson Plan

Overview

In this code activity, students are introduced to programming topics through the visual programming language Blockly. The activity includes reading input from the user, printing output to the screen, mathematically manipulating numerical data and making simple decisions with code. Students are also introduced to computational thinking concepts, including control structures which determine the flow of a program.

The activity is based around the theme of space. Questions are intended as launching points for further space discussion including inter-planetary travel and gravity.

Learning Objectives

At completion of this activity, students will:

• have used a computer to print data to the screen
• performed calculations on numerical data
• have used the computer to make decisions
• have used logic and problem solving skills to answer simple questions

Extended activities

Keep exploring space!

In the final activity, students find out how high they could jump on Mars or Saturn. What other space-themed programs can they come up with?

Some ideas:

• Write a program to calculate how high you could jump on every planet in the solar system.
• Hello, Earthling! If you are from Earth, you’re an Earthling. If you are from Mars, you’re a Martian. What are you if you are from Jupiter? Write a program to greet people correctly depending on which planet they are from.
• Write a program to calculate your age on other planets.
• How much would you weigh on other planets? Write a program to find out!

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