Celebrating National Computer Science Education Week
During the week of December 6-10, fifth graders in Oley Valley School District had an awesome time celebrating National Computer Science Education Week in math and English language arts classrooms! Every year, students and adults of all ages across the nation share in expanding their horizons in the STEM world of computer science. This educational STEM week will always fall during December 9 in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, born December 9, 1906 (the very man who coined the term computer “bug”). Through various activities, digital and “unplugged,” students explored coding in many different forms, and additionally, where an interest in coding could lead them to one day in hobbies and careers.
Lastly, our concepts of computational thinking and processing were extended to an “unplugged” lesson. After designing MadLibs-style original stories, the missing word blanks that were labeled with various parts of speech acted as “variables” in coding. Inputting different words drastically changed the outcome of the story, just as inputting a different “x” or “y” drastically altered a coded design or command.