OVERVIEW

Activity Overview:

This activity allows students to practice their multiplication fact fluency while also covering computer science standards. Students will program a Micro:bit to answer multiplication questions. All students will need a piece of paper, a computer and a Micro:bit.

Meta description

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Mathematics, Technology
• Grade Level : 3-5
• Computer Science Domains:
  • Computing Systems, Algorithms and Programming
• Computer Science Principles:
  • Fostering an Inclusive Computing Culture, Collaborating Around Computing, Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems
• Materials:
  • Micro:bit
• Considerations:
  • It would be a good idea for teachers to practice coding their own Micro:Bit to solve multiplication problems before doing this lesson with students.

Lesson Plan

Overview

This activity allows students to practice their multiplication fact fluency while also covering computer science standards. Students will program a Micro:bit to answer multiplication questions. All students will need a piece of paper, a computer and a Micro:bit.

ASSESSMENT PRE/POST-TEST

What is a Micro:Bit? What is coding? Can you solve one-digit by one-digit multiplication problems using a Micro:Bit? Do you know your multiplication facts?

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to fluently multiply one-digit by one-digit numbers. Students will be able to code a Micro:Bit to display and answer multiplication questions.

CATCH/HOOK

On the SMART board I will display a Micro:Bit that will display 4x2=8. Ask students how they think the Micro:Bit knows that 4 multiplied by 2 equals 8? Ask students how I got the Micro:Bit to display this information? Show students makecode.microbit.org and show them the input that told the Micro:Bit to show an output. Ask students if they are ready to try coding a Micro:Bit to answer multiplication problems? Give directions on how to use the Micro:Bit responsibly and respectfully and have students go to makecode.microbit.org on their laptops. Pass out Micro:Bits and their USB cables. Have students plug their Micro:Bit into their laptop. Show students how to start a new project and give students time to explore. As they explore, walk around and help students troubleshoot any problems.

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS

Have students put their computer and Micro:Bit to the side. Pass out a blank piece of paper to each student. Have them write their name on top and write 10 one-digit by one-digit multiplication facts down on their paper without answering them. Encourage them not to use x1 or x0. Once they are done, have them flip their paper over. Once everyone is done, have them pass their paper to their right. Everyone should now have a paper that is not their own. Have them flip over the paper and solve the 10 multiplication problems. Once they finish, have them flip the paper back over and wait patiently for everyone else to finish. Pass the papers back to their original owners. Have the owners check their papers to make sure that all of the problems are correct. If they are not correct, have them fix it. “Now we are going to program our Micro:bit to answer these questions.” “First we are going to do one together.” Walk students through how to use the make code space to program their Micro:Bit to display 9x9=81. Walk around and ensure that students understand. Once most students understand the concept, have them erase that code and start their own code to answer the first 3 problems on their paper. As students are working you can walk around the room and help as needed.

Supplements

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REVIEW

Have students use the stand up, hand up, pair up strategy to share what was easy and what was difficult about this project with three people. Once they have shared with three different people they may sit back down. Call on volunteers to come up and display their Micro:Bit code over the projector. Have them explain what they did, what was easy, and what was difficult to the class.

STANDARDS