OVERVIEW

Activity Overview:

Students spend several periods looking at the development of communication over the past 200 years.

Meta description

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Science, Social Studies, Technology
• Grade Level : K-2, 3-5
• Computer Science Domains:
  • Computing Systems, Networks and The Internet, Algorithms and Programming, Impacts of Computing
• Computer Science Principles:
  • Developing and Using Abstractions, Creating Computational Artifacts, Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts, Communicating About Computing
• Materials:
  • Micro:bit
• Considerations:
  • The big thing is that second graders have experienced life without smart phones. Taking them back to a time before phones is a challenge.

Lesson Plan

Overview

Students spend several periods looking at the development of communication over the past 200 years.

ASSESSMENT PRE/POST-TEST

What is a micro:bit? How does hardware know what to do? How does information get from a computer to a micro:bit? How did technology change communication? <Cut & Paste activity>

OBJECTIVES

Explain how technology has changed communication Describe how information is transferred between pieces of hardware

CATCH/HOOK

Have students explain how to get information from Wyoming to California quickly using only technology available at the beginning of the 1800s. As they start talking- explain that modern options were not available.

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS

Students spend a couple of days practicing morse code, using micro:bits, and Micro:Chat.

Supplements

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REVIEW

Create a timeline showing how things have changed.

STANDARDS