Lesson Plan
Code.org

Algorithms Detour - Shortest Path

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young programmers investigate the Single Source Shortest Path problem by working in paris to devise their own algorithm. They then progress to using Dijkstra's Algorithm to solve the problem. 
Lesson Plan
Code.org

The Need for Algorithms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pairs work through two scenarios that require them to generate an algorithm. The first activity requires pairs to define a common language to use; the second comes with the language. The pairs then must determine how to code the...
Activity
Beauty and Joy of Computing

Algorithms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Introduces the class to the idea of searching a list by building a script. Learners modify a guessing game script that will find a number in a list. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solving a Simple Maze

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
It is a-maze-ing how lost one can get. Teams reconstruct a simple maze and solve it. Participants create an algorithm that a robot would follow in order to solve the maze as well. The activity includes an extension directing pupils to...
Lesson Plan
Code.org

Algorithms Detour - Minimum Spanning Tree

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This optional lesson plan introduces the class to the idea of a minimum spanning tree. The activity focuses on determining an algorithm that will find the most efficient path in a network to transfer data. 
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Sorting Socks is Algorithm Complexity

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Use hosiery to teach computer science. Scholars use socks to develop a set of algorithms. They find ways to find a particular sock from a set and ways to sort socks. Finally, they use their algorithms to consider time complexity.
Activity
Computer Science Unplugged

Divide and Conquer—Santa’s Dirty Socks

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
The story "Santa's Dirty Socks" provides learners an example of a search algorithm that uses a divide and conquer system similar to a binary search algorithm. The included questions expand upon the concepts that follow the story.
Lesson Plan
Code.org

Creativity in Algorithms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Groups work with the program they built in the previous lesson to make it more creative. The resource challenges pupils to add functionality to their existing programs by adding a new command.
Activity
Computer Science Unplugged

Battleships—Searching Algorithms

For Teachers 4th - 12th
How does a computer perform a search in order to find data? The lesson begins with a demonstration on finding one number out of 15. Pairs then play three games of Battleship by using different search techniques. The lesson...
Activity
Computer Science Unplugged

Drawing Lines with Pixels

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How do the computers keep it straight? Using the provided algorithms, class members draw a line and a circle using pixels. They then check the drawings using a straight edge and compass to determine the accuracy of their...
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Fun with Sorting

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Who knew sorting could be so much fun? Scholars participate in a sorting activity where they develop questions to place a list of numbers in order. They consider how these questions can be used as an algorithm.
Activity
Computer Science Unplugged

Lightest and Heaviest—Sorting Algorithms

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
How do computers sort data lists? Using eight unknown weights and a balance scale, groups determine the order of the weights from lightest to heaviest. A second worksheet provides the groups with other methods to order the weights. The...
AP Test Prep
College Board

2006 AP® Computer Science A Free-Response Questions

For Students 10th - 12th
Inheritance is a programming problem. Released free-response questions allow pupils and teachers to experience the 2006 AP® exam phrases questions. The items range from the application of basic algorithms to using inheritance in a...
AP Test Prep
College Board

2004 AP® Computer Science A Free-Response Questions

For Students 10th - 12th
What is important from the instruction? Using the questions, pupils and teachers see how the AP® Computer Science exam addresses topics. Scholars realize the importance of the case studies from the course. The released questions range...
AP Test Prep
College Board

Team Problems in Computer Science

For Students 10th - 12th
There is no I in team. Seven team problems provide classmates the opportunity to work with a partner on a task. Projects span the course and require pupils to apply their knowledge. Tasks range from writing the algorithm in English to...
eBook
Computer Science Field Guide

Computer Science Field Guide

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Imagine computer science all summed up in one book. This resource provides 16 chapters that cover many aspects of computer science, ranging from algorithms to software engineering. The e-book contains links to applets to help explain...
AP Test Prep
College Board

2007 AP® Computer Science A Free-Response Questions

For Students 10th - 12th
Stay tuned for a programming announcement. The resource contains the four free-response questions from the 2007 AP® Computer Science exam. Teachers and pupils use the questions to understand how topics appear on exams. The items cover...
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Solving a Simple Maze

For Students 5th - 10th
Solve a maze ... from a robot's point of view. In the lesson plan, your scholars build a small, simple maze from cardboard and then find a route from the start point to the finish point. They write an algorithmic process that a robot...
Lesson Plan
Code.org

The Need for Programming Languages

For Teachers 9th - 12th
LEGO see if you can recreate my design. Individuals build an arrangement from LEGO blocks and write directions for someone else to follow in order to recreate the arrangement. Pairs then swap directions and try to...
Lesson Plan
Code.org

Hard Problems – Traveling Salesperson Problem

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Even computers find this to be a hard problem. In the eighth installment of a 12-part unit, young computer scientists learn about the traveling salesperson problem. They formulate algorithms to solve the problem and find out why it is...
Lesson Plan
Code.org

Introduction to Digital Assistant Project

For Students 9th - 12th
How does a computer recognize voice commands? Scholars learn about digital assistants and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms in the ninth lesson of the series. They begin building a simple digital assistant and work on this...
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Search Engines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Introduce search engines with an activity that models how search engines work and the different algorithms they employ. Working in groups, class members then build search queries to demonstrate the knowledge learned.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going with the Flow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners survey each other and determine their common interests. They examine the use of algorithms by various websites that are used to develop networks of interest groups among users. They then design proposals for a social networking...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multiplication

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders play the game "MultipliACTION," where they use a standard algorithm to multiply numbers. They use the website Mathfrog and select "MultipliACTION." Students fill in the answer boxes, from right to left, top to bottom, or...

Other popular searches