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Anchor Chart Instructions

Click “File”“Make a copy”“Entire Presentation” for your own copy!

Welcome!

  • Use these anchor charts to support computational thinking in your K-5 ELA classroom.
  • They are designed as “Computational Thinking Routines” that support visualizing thinking skills relevant to ELA practices.
  • Learn more about leveraging computational thinking for K-5 ELA.
  • Check out our Lesson Library for integrated computational thinking resources!
  • Printing Instructions: “File” → “Download”“PDF Document” to export for print.

You are viewing the 8.5 x 11-inch version.

View the 24 x 36-inch version.

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Table of Contents

Anchor Charts

Miscellaneous

  • Icons and Graphic Elements

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Suggested Grade Level: K-2

Computational thinking…

Is a set of skills for problem solving

Is based on computer science

Can be done with or without digital tools

Can be used to solve problems in any subject, even reading and writing

Abstraction – find the most important parts

Decomposition – break something down into its parts to better understand them

Algorithmic Thinking organize steps in a sequence

Pattern Recognition – notice when something repeats

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Computational thinking…

Is a set of skills for problem solving

Is based on concepts in computer science

Can be done with or without digital tools

Can be used to solve problems in any subject, even reading and writing

Abstraction identifying the most important aspects of a problem or phenomenon

Decomposition dividing problems into smaller parts to better understand them

Algorithmic Thinking organizing steps in an ordered sequence for a specific outcome

Pattern Recognition noticing and tracking when features, information, or relationships repeat

Suggested Grade Level: 3-5

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How can you do this with sentences, paragraphs, or even stories?

Break it down into letters

When you come across something tricky while reading or writing, you can decompose or break it down.�

Let’s try it with a CVC word!

Sound out each letter

Blend the parts together

Say it all together

c

a

t

c

a

t

cat

Suggested Grade Level: K-1

c a t

Use the alphabet wall to help you with tricky letters

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How can you do this with sentences, paragraphs, or even stories?

Break it down into chunks

When you come across something tricky while reading or writing, you can decompose or break it down.�

Let’s try it with a big word!

Look for parts you know

Use spelling patterns to help read tricky parts

Say the parts together!

re

read

ing

re

read

ing

rereading

Suggested Grade Level: 2-5

Prefix

Root word

Suffix

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We can use computational thinking to build ideas and knowledge.

When can this help with reading and writing?

Write down all ideas that come to mind

Look for patterns and group ideas based on similarities

Identify the most important concept from each grouping

Connect concepts together with old and new knowledge

Suggested Grade Level: K-5

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Suggested Grade Level: 2-5

Main idea

Closing Sentence

Supporting detail 1

Supporting detail 2

Supporting detail 3

Look for words that end with the same sound

Look for words that describe relationships between ideas

Look for repeated structures in text such as in sentences or paragraphs

Paragraph Structure

Transition words:

but, both, however, similar, alike, different

Compare & Contrast

What other patterns do you notice when reading?

You can circle , underline, highlight,add different colors, or use symbols (*!?) �to mark up a text to help notice patterns.

Patterns in texts can help you make sense of what you are reading.

Examples of Patterns in Texts

Imagine a cat A

In a big hat A

Imagine a mouse B

In a small house B

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Suggested Grade Level: 3-5

Before reading:

How else do you grow new ideas while reading?

What are the most important ideas, themes, and pieces of information are you learning?

After reading:

What questions are coming up?

What opinions and inferences are coming from reading?

While reading:

What connections can you make with other topics?

What connections can you make to self, others, and society?

What connections can you make between steps 1 and 2?

When you synthesize, you combine what you already know and the most important ideas you read to grow your thinking.

  1. Background

Knowledge

2. New Ideas

3. Connections

What do you already know about this topic?

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Before reading, take note of background knowledge

After reading, form connections between ideas

While reading, abstract new ideas

How else do you grow new ideas while reading?

When you synthesize, you combine what you already know and the most important ideas you read to grow your thinking.

  • Background

Knowledge

2. New Ideas

3. Connections

Suggested Grade Level: 3-5

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It uses boxes to represent parts of the process and arrows to show the direction between steps

You can also use a diamond to represent a question

For example, here is a flowchart for the Three Little Pigs:

How can you write your own “algorithm” or flowchart?

A flowchart shows the steps of a process from beginning to end in a sequence. A flowchart is a way to show an algorithm.

What is the house made of?

Wolf blows the house down!

Wolf blows the house down!

Wolf does not blow the house down.

Big bad wolf blows on the pigs' houses

straw

wood

brick

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Build Your Own Routine

Graphic Elements

Icons

Main idea

Closing Sentence

Supporting detail 1

Supporting detail 2

Supporting detail 3