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Computer Science Made Easy

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(based on 39 reviews)

I have a long history in teaching Computer Science at secondary level. Most of my resources are related to the Edexcel syllabus, but in CS computing is computing, and it is all much the same!. I like to teach programming in a way that the kids will really 'get' using things relevant in their lives, like Beyonce, and Adidas!

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I have a long history in teaching Computer Science at secondary level. Most of my resources are related to the Edexcel syllabus, but in CS computing is computing, and it is all much the same!. I like to teach programming in a way that the kids will really 'get' using things relevant in their lives, like Beyonce, and Adidas!
Edexcel Computer Science Paper 2 Practice Online Coding
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Edexcel Computer Science Paper 2 Practice Online Coding

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This year the GCSE students will have 50% of the course examined online. I have created 8 questions which scaffold the learning up to the point of the sample online tests. The cover: If, iteration, len, global, local variables, constants, data types and coercion, lists, turtle, libraries and more. There is a PowerPoint of exercises to give to the learner, and another with teacher solutions after each question. My students found it fun and engaging, and I am confident they won’t flip out now when they see the #comment format of the summer examinations. Tes will not allow me to add py files here, so the slides are screen shots, they can either type in the codes, or you can email me to get the code files and solutions annemariebradshaw@hotmail.com. This unit of work took around 3 hours, will explanations for lower ability coders. The exercises can also be used for improving code, with a little tweak in the questions given. I hope your students enjoy it as much as mine did.
Code Layout Structures Edexcel Computer Science
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Code Layout Structures Edexcel Computer Science

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This is a PPT resource for GCSE Computer Science. It takes the learners through libraries, constants, variables, globals, sub programs. There is a section where the learners are questioned on what they have learnt. The answers are on the teacher PPT. There is also a jumbled up coding task, email me for the Python file if you don’t want to type it out.
GCSE Computer Science -Understanding database relationships
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GCSE Computer Science -Understanding database relationships

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Building on from knowledge of flat file databases, tables, fields, records, this lesson guides the learners on a journey into foreign keys, relationship types (one to many, many to many, one to one) They are given fields names at first to rearrange into two tables for one to many, learning the concept of how we decide upon the relationship to use. This builds further into recognising where to use a foreign key. The knowledge is expanded upon with the introduction of many to many relationships, and the concept of link, or junction tables. Learners then have the opportunity to test their knowledge. Answer slides are given. This was observed and judged to be engaging, and showed excellent progress. Everybody needs a bit of that!
ESafety Hoax!
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ESafety Hoax!

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This is a lesson aimed at Y7 and Y8 to teach them about online hoaxes (as per KCSIE requirement) There are exercises, and a video to watch.
TWO GCSE paper 2 lessons!  (Edexcel)
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TWO GCSE paper 2 lessons! (Edexcel)

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To prepare for paper 2, I have included lessons for using parameters in sub programs, and linear searches. All lessons include the code (email me for this) and they scaffold and mirror the questions the exam board ask. For example, rearranging lines, debugging, choosing the correct line. These lessons will scaffold the more advanced questions aimed at levels 7,8,9. These particularly match paper 2 sample assessment.
Engaging Higher Ability by Coding Linear Searches
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Engaging Higher Ability by Coding Linear Searches

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These lessons are in preparation for Paper 2, and show how to create a linear search. Learners are reminded first of how linear searches work, the advantages and disadvantages. Then following exam board rhetoric, there are debug exercises, exercises where learners choose the correct line. An exercise in moving lines about. It is all outstanding practice for the exam, and follows on from the lengthy question in the specimen paper. I am unable to upload Py files, but if you message me, I can email them to you.
Edexcel Computer Science Paper 1 quiz
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Edexcel Computer Science Paper 1 quiz

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48 questions aimed at only the topics given by the exam board in the slimmed down version. These are accompanied by a PPT which includes a brief of each of the new topics. Work is great for revision, individually, or paired work. These will take you right up to paper 1 exam. The questions can be used in conjunction with any of the text books, or even GCSE Bitesize. Make sure learners are only focussed on what will be on the exam, and not the other stuff!
Scratch Coding Constructs
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Scratch Coding Constructs

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This is a lesson that was graded outstanding. Not just making a Scratch animation, but linking the constructs of for and while loops, if then statements, delays, and subroutines with explanation, then opportunity for the learners to look at code and see the structures. They can then make an animation using what they’ve learnt. Finally there is opportunity for peer marking / assessment, and self assessment.
Scratch lesson using pen up pen down
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Scratch lesson using pen up pen down

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This is a full one hour lesson for basic skills in Scratch. It is suitable for year 5 up to year 8. There is an extension task included. The lesson builds upon the introductory aquarium lesson, but can be used as a standalone with a slide added to explain x and y co-ordinates. The learners loved how they could use this coding and create something personal to them (the first letter of their name).
A year 10 GCSE lesson on abstraction
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A year 10 GCSE lesson on abstraction

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Contains learning objectives / outcomes, and has several engaging exercises to embed the learning. One of which being a Python script which can be easily abstracted. Also, the script can be used to teach sub routines as part of the decomposition / abstraction cycle.
An introduction to Scratch for young children, or low ability
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An introduction to Scratch for young children, or low ability

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The software is introduced as a story told by the Scratch cat himself! It covers all of the basics needed before they begin programming, with introduction to the window, creating, or importing stages, and importing sprites. There is a task, and an introduction to the next exciting lesson. Can either be read to the children, or given to them as a self follow tutorial.
52 dingbat starters for Computer Science and ICT
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52 dingbat starters for Computer Science and ICT

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Dingbats are images that make up keywords. I've used this as an end of term whole class game which really engaged the learners in thinking about Computer Science key terms. Great for literacy too. Or they could be used as a starter to hook learners as they enter the room. More suited to year 9 and above, but can be used in KS3 where the learners have been exposed to key terms such as open source, firewall, MP3, magnetic hard drive etc.
Abstraction, flow chart, application to Game Maker SOW 6 weeks including assessment and exam
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Abstraction, flow chart, application to Game Maker SOW 6 weeks including assessment and exam

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This is a 6 week SOW which introduces learners to the concept of abstraction, pseudocode writing, and then flowcharting, with examples, and easy to follow PowerPoints with activities to deepen learning. Abstraction, pseudocode, flowchart, create, debug, improve is given as a cycle for learning programming. Lessons 4 5 and 6 are about creating a step by step Fifa football game with challenges at the end. There are differentiation tasks throughout the sow.
FREE Covid home tasks - 6 hour project
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FREE Covid home tasks - 6 hour project

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I have created a resource that all kids will be able to do at home. Basically it is about designing a computer game, splash screens, characters, game play. It is really for KS3, but could do lower ability KS4. It is self explanatory so they can go on Google Classroom or your sharing platform- download, complete and upload. It follows Identify, Analysis, Evaluation, and Testing as a systems life cycle, and also touches on decomposition of tasks. Together we are better!