Express It With Code

Teacher Artifact

Teachers who make Project Based Learning a regular part of their teaching enjoy their new role, although for some it might take time to adjust from traditional practice. Teachers explicitly and implicitly promote student

independence and growth, open-ended inquiry,

team spirit, and attention to quality.

Student Voice & Independence

Student Voice & Independence

Students should be given some freedom in the artifact or project they are creating. Practically speaking, it may be helpful to limit the potential projects. Teachers may choose to narrow the types of projects based on how they connect to other content areas, such as a digital story or animation for reading content.

​

Student Voice & Independence

However, it is important to step back when problems, challenges, or questions arise to allow students to take the lead. Teachers should provide time for students to independently drive the direction of the projects and provide the opportunity to present project ideas for feedback.

Student Voice & Independence

To be successful, students of different backgrounds, experience and comfort levels should have different ways to express themselves with computer science to the class and broader community.

​

Let’s Try: Express It with Code

• Based the Sunset Spark Activity, the Coding with Feeling Unit identifies social emotional learning content and activities that support the understanding of computer science and computational thinking concepts.
• Beginning with sub-concepts such as decomposition, pattern recognition and generalization, students learn to analyze how we communicate feelings through different forms of expression.

Let’s Try: Express It with Code

• Students then learn how to apply the computer science practices and concepts to create a computing artifact that models a specific feeling or emotion.
• The project uses a Universal Design for Learning approach to student voice and independence by having:
• Students choose the feeling and how they want to express it.
• Students choose the platform to use to create the expression.
• Teacher supports the CS content learning.

Let’s Try: Express It with Code

In this activity you will plan a project to express a feeling. In planning the activity you will have to identify:

• the feeling you want to express,
• ways that the feeling can be expressed,
• how you can express it with code,
• and what you will need to learn to do so.

Step 1: What feeling would you like to express with your project?

Add Your Feeling Word Below:

​

​

Use the following feelings chart if you are not sure what you want to express.

Sample Project: What feeling would you like to express with your project?

Add Your Feeling Word Below:

​

​

Use the following feelings chart if you are not sure what you want to express.

Excited

How would you express [your feeling]:

​

​

How would you express excited:

​

​

Step 2: How would you like to express it using code?

Add A CS Platform Below:

​

​

For this activity you can choose from the following CS platforms: (ScratchJr or Scratch)

Sample Project: How would you like to express it using code?

Add A CS Platform Below:

​

​

Scratch

For this activity you can choose from the following CS platforms: (ScratchJr or Scratch)

How would you use [CS platform] to express [your feeling] with code:

​

​

How would you use Scratch to express excited with code:

​

​

How would you use [CS platform] to express [your feeling] with code:

​

​

How would you use Scratch to express excited with code:

​

​

Step 3: What do I need to know about coding to express it?

Add One or More CS Resource Below:

​

​

Start with one of the following resources: ScratchJr - block descriptions, activities, tips & hints Scratch - tutorials, coding cards, starter projects

Sample Project: What do I need to know about coding to express it?

Add One or More CS Resource Below:

​

​

Start with one of the following resources: ScratchJr - block descriptions, activities, tips & hints Scratch - tutorials, coding cards, starter projects

tutorials & starter projects

How would you use [CS platform] to express [your feeling] with code:

​

​

How would you use [CS platform] to express [your feeling] with code:

​

​

Step 4: Build and share your Express It With Code project!

Add A Link to Your Project:

​

​

Other ways to share your project: (Flipgrid or screen recording)

Sample Project: Build and share your Express It With Code project!

Add A Link to Your Project:

​

​

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/404166570

Other ways to share your project: (Flipgrid or screen recording)

Reflection Questions:

What did you like about this approach to Project Based Learning?

​

​

​

​

​

What was challenging with this approach to Project Based Learning?