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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
CPD Taster: Primary programming and algorithms
This is a CPD taster created to give teachers a better understanding of what to expect when joining one of our primary computing courses. Below you will find a video and a task for you to do in your own time. Once you have done the task, then book on to Primary programming and algorithms.
Programming is a key part of the computer science element within the primary computing curriculum but what does this entail? What are the best ways to teach this? And what does programming look like across the primary phase?
In this video Helen Cotton, Subject Matter Expert and Primary Lead, explains how unplugged programming is a wonderful way to engage pupils to get to grips with abstract concepts in a more concrete way. There is then a short task that gives a sample of the types of activities you will be guided through on this CPD course.
Match
Watch the ‘Jam Sandwich’ video: Jam Sandwich video
The video shows a collection of algorithm errors / great debugging opportunities that Year 4 & Year 5 pupils found when trying to program their teacher to make a jam sandwich.
Read through the key terms cards and jargon buster poster on this Barefoot resource and match the computer science concepts to the different stages of the jam sandwich activity.
Which year groups would this activity work with? What other curriculum areas could you teach this lesson in?
Next steps
In the summary video, Helen explains what you can expect from attending the Primary programming and algorithms course.
Book your place on Primary programming and algorithms (CP003).
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