Context of the Standard

Objects and actions have attributes; these attributes allow people to group items into sets. Attributes may be physical properties, behaviors, or actions. Actions in computer science can be displayed as step-by-step sequences (algorithms). Categorizing of attributes or actions relies on careful observation of patterns and similarities and differences.  In this standard, students are expected to analyze sets of items and compare and contrast the attributes that led to the development of the set. Students can use additional attributes to categorize sets into subsets.

In block based programming environments, commands are grouped into categories based on function. In higher level programming languages, data are often classified by the type and format of the information.

Essential Skills

Essential Questions

Essential Vocabulary

Students should demonstrate these skills:

• Name multiple ways to sort a set of objects.
• Sort and group (classify) objects into appropriate sets (categories) based on multiple attributes.
• Classify objects into subsets based on a secondary attribute.
• Label attributes of a set of objects that has been sorted.

Students should investigate these concepts:

• Why is it useful to sort objects into sets and why is it helpful in our daily lives?
• (Given a set of objects) How many different ways can you find to organize these objects?
• How are items organized with multiple attributes?
• What attributes can you use take a set of things that you have sorted and then sort them into subsets?
• Why is the sorting of attributes important for computer science?

Students should apply these terms in context:

• Subset