Context of the Standard

When an algorithm or a set of algorithms is tested, a program has been created.  People work together to plan, create and test these programs.  This process of planning, creating, and testing program is called programming and is used to create a wide variety of products such as video games, interactive art projects and digital stories.  

In second grade, students are expected to develop simple programs that use both sequencing and simple loops to complete a task. These programs may be developed using block-based or unplugged activities. Block-based programs (e.g., Scratch Jr., Tynker) allow students to develop simple algorithms using a computer. Students are also expected to identify events; an event is an action or occurrence detected by a program.

Essential Skills

Essential Questions

Essential Vocabulary

Students should demonstrate these skills:

• As a class and individually, construct a sequence of steps to accomplish an activity.
• Recognize that a sequence of steps when using a computer is called a program.
• Recognize a repeated sequence of steps as an opportunity to use a loop.
• Model the steps of a program that contains at least one loop using coding cards or similar instructional strategy.
• Identify events that are used in a program.
• Explain the role of an event in a program

Students should investigate these concepts:

• How would you write instructions for an action that repeats itself?
• What are different ways that you can signal the start of a program: plugged and unplugged?
• What does the word “event” mean in the context of programming?

Students should be introduced to these concepts:

• Event
• Loop
• Program
• Repeat