• If you would like to see the students work, Click Here.

• You may be asked by the Java plugin for permission to run the game. Please accept by right clicking the mouse upon request and choosing run.

In this course students learn the basics of computer programming with the aid of the software application Scratch developed by MIT in the USA.

They write simple instructions and sets of procedures using standard commands and the repeat function. They begin to see how simple sets of instructions can be combined to produce outcomes. They have the experience of ‘teaching’ the computer new words (i.e. the procedures) defined by the students themselves.

At first students plan then design a computer based game by importing images or drawing them directly in Scratch. They then write code to create accurate instructions for basic movements and to duplicate it to form a sequence of movements controlled by the keyboard or mouse. They then go on to build a sequence of events to activate multiple graphics concurrently. The outputs are activated by the appropriate input(s).

The end result is a game with multiple levels and difficulties and an insight into the vast subject of computer science.

This activity is a good example of embedding ICT into projects from other departmental areas with the objective of enhancing the learning for language, social studies and ICT.

In social studies students are given 19 well known brands to research so they can find out if theses companies follow socially acceptable standards with regards staff and materials. Students also conduct real time interviews with professionals from the UK who deal with child slavery and human rights.

In ICT the demand is for students to use the Logical Test Functions as well as other formula to format and test working spreadsheet.

Students start by downloading the brand logo. They then import into Photoshop and remove the name only. They import the altered graphic into Excel and create a table to include the brand, a space where the player may right the name of the brand, a space for the logical test to show, a space for the player to answer if it is socially responsible or not and finally two spaces for an answer plus explanation.

At the bottom of the sheet is a counter to let the player know how many answers are right or wrong.

Below you will find links to a couple of games completed by students this year. Please feel free to download them and play the games yourselves.

Download (XLSX, Unknown)

Download (XLSX, Unknown)

Download (XLSX, Unknown)

In Year 4 students are introduced to a Spreadsheet program, which in this case is Microsoft Excel. They are instructed on the basics of how to interact with the interface. They are required to input data taken from their Science or Social Studies class so they may format a table and create a graph.

Examples will be posted here in the future.