< Course E (2021)

Lesson 10: Mini-Project: Design a Snowflake

60 minutes

Overview

This mini-project lesson takes students through a series of exercises to create snowflake images using characters from the Frozen movies.

Purpose

In this lesson, students will get apply their skills with nested loops to create images that they will be excited to share.

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017)
    • 1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program development process.
    • 1B-AP-13 - Use an iterative process to plan the development of a program by including others' perspectives and considering user preferences.

Cross-Curricular Opportunities

Common Core Math Standards
    • 4.MD.5.b - An angle that turns through n one-degree angles is said to have an angle measure of n degrees.

Agenda

Objectives

Students will be able to:
  • Break apart code into the largest repeatable sequences using both loops and nested loops.
  • Describe when a loop, nested loop, or no loop is needed.
  • Recognize the difference between using a loop and a nested loop.

Preparation

  • Play through the puzzles to find and potential problem areas for your class.
  • Make sure every student has a reflection journal.

Vocabulary

  • Loop - The action of doing something over and over again.
  • Repeat - To do something again.

Teaching Guide

Warm Up (15 minutes)

Introduction

Ask the class to discuss the last set of puzzles.

  • What did they like/dislike?
  • Which puzzles were hard? Why?
  • Which puzzles were easy? Why?
  • If you were to teach nested loops to a friend, what would you say to help them understand?

If there's time, give an introduction to the main characters of today's puzzles, Anna and Elsa from "Frozen". Give the class the sisters' back story if the class doesn't already know it. To build excitement, tell the class they will be using nested loops to make some fantastic drawings with Anna and Elsa's ice skates!

Main Activity (30 minutes)

Nested Loops with Frozen

This lesson consists of two separate snowflake projects. In each project, code carries through levels with the student, allowing them to continuously make small and simple changes to code they have already written.

Wrap Up (15 minutes)

Reflection

Prompts:

  • When do you use a loop? When do you use a nested loop?
  • How would the code for your snowflake look different if you only used one loop? No loops?

Cross-Curricular Opportunity

Snow Day Fun! (45-75 minutes)

Computer Science + English Language Arts + Math

Snow Day Fun! is an optional activity aligned to Common Core ELA and Math standards, written by our teacher community. Students will help Elsa explore her winter wonderland as they create a snowflake using nested loops and lines of symmetry.

Standards Addressed:

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.G.A.3: Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry.

  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.C.5.B: An angle that turns through n one-degree angles is said to have an angle measure of n degrees.

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