Computer Science For Middle School

Build teacher confidence and capacity with computer science curriculum from Ellipsis Education. Our K-12 courses have everything you need to get students going: detailed lesson plans (beyond just coding), pacing guides, standards maps, and ongoing support. That way, you can focus on what you do best – teaching.

In a 21st century society, it is important to teach computer science in middle school. The earlier students discover computer science, the more skills they will be able to master in the future. The basic building blocks of coding, such as loops, functions, and conditionals, can be applied to more complex languages. As students progress to more advanced projects, such as developing websites, programs, and games, they are motivated to connect with their world and empowered to expand their skills. Students also practice the communication, collaboration, computational thinking, and creative skills they will need to be successful later in their educational careers. What other benefits does computer science education provide? In this blog, we explore computer science education research and how it benefits academic achievement in other subject areas. For example, in this computer science pdf, it was found that students who studied CS achieved greater gains in mathematics than students who did not study CS.

Computer science is not just about coding, so the best coding programs for middle school need to include other CS topics. Standards for middle school computer science include digital citizenship, STEM careers, and more. In a society where children are interacting with technology daily, it is important to foster responsible and creative learning around computer science. That’s why our computer science curriculum for middle school includes more than just coding. Our lessons include a variety of computer science activities for elementary students. For example, in this free lesson plan for computer teachers pdf, students learn about how to protect themselves online by leaving a good digital footprint. Additionally, we offer a student-friendly My STEM Career podcast, in which we interview STEM professionals. For example, check out this interview about the 3D printing industry shown below.

We understand that teaching computer science is a big task and that takes a lot of preparation and planning. That’s why our lessons include materials, resources, instructions, and assessments. Whether you are looking for lesson plans teaching computer basics or for more advanced CS lessons, we believe any teacher can teach computer science. 

Take a glimpse at our free computer lessons for middle school students below. Each of the computer lesson plans for middle school pdf include links to the appropriate materials and resources, a detailed procedure, activity tips, and a bonus challenge activity.

• Coding – Hello World! JavaScript: Students will begin to explore the basics of how the internet works and how webpages are built. HTML and other established standards and best practices will be introduced and practiced. Students will create a simple webpage that displays a greeting message.
• Coding – Data Types: Students will be introduced to the data types used in the Java programming language. Students will spend time analyzing, discussing, and manipulating code to enhance their understanding of the syntax required when establishing variables in Java. Students will discuss the concepts of variables and data types and how they are related. Students will be exposed to creating and printing basic Java variables, and will then independently finish a program that prints strings of characters and existing variables to the screen. 
• STEM Career – Digital Security Analyst: Students will learn about Digital Security Analysts and how to protect yourself online by leaving a good digital footprint. 
• STEM Career – 3D Printing Industry: Students will be introduced to 3D printing technology and two roles in the realm of 3D printing. Students will discuss the responsibilities of a CAD designer and a 3D printing technician. Then, students will explore skills and traits that successful professionals in both positions possess. Finally, students will design and evaluate a product to be 3D printed with customer specifications in mind. 

View all of our free lesson offerings for grades K-12 on our Computer Science Lesson Plans page, and explore all of our free resources to help you teach CS in your classroom.

There are many resources and coding games for middle school on the web to help you teach computer science in your classroom. In this section, explore an overview of a few websites we found for you to give you more computer science lesson ideas.

• Scratch is a free, block-based coding language. Scratch coding uses an inventive puzzle-like interface to empower students to make stories, animations, games, and art. The idea is to introduce computer science skills to students that have little to no experience writing code. Our elementary curriculum for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade courses use Scratch, but you can find other activities for coding for middle schoolers free on Scratch’s website.

• Blockly Games by Google provides educational games to help students who have no computer science experience. Through the games, students learn block-based coding and text-based coding (JavaScript).

• Code.org offers free coding for middle school students and unplugged coding activities for middle school. The website includes courses, activities, and projects that students can access from any device. Learn more about how Ellipsis Education is the Perfect Complement to Code.org in our blog.

• View NASA education resources on the NASA education website. Here you can find a variety of STEM activities for all grade levels, including a Mars rover game or STEM themed storybook read aloud activities.

• On the Concord Consortium STEM resource finder, discover science activities for your classroom. You can search the Concord STEM site by science domain or by grade level to find the lesson you need.

Ellipsis Education provides full-year K-12 computer science curriculum. The curriculum offers grade level differentiated learning pathways, aligns with all state and national computer science standards, and is continually updated to reflect changes in computer science. Ellipsis Education computer science education courses are customized to districts’ unique instructional strategy for computer science integration. This can mean incorporating computer science into an existing class period, adding to a Specials rotation, or introducing a stand alone class. Courses are delivered with instructional resources teachers need to feel confident teaching computer science. Explore our full course offerings on this computer curriculum guide pdf or on our courses page.

Our coding curriculum for middle school (grades 6-8) helps you motivate your students with courses that connect to their world. Coding lessons use line-based languages JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Java to explore programming options. This free lesson involves students practicing JavaScript and HTML. Below, explore the courses in this grade band and find each course computer science for middle school pdf:

• Intro to CS Applications 6th grade
• CS Applications 7th grade
• CS Applications Java 8th grade

Alongside our middle school curriculum, we offer courses for grades K-5 and high school. Our elementary computer science curriculum for K-2 empowers you to engage your students with courses that fuel their interest. Coding lessons use Scratch Jr., an introductory block coding language platform, perfect for emergent and early readers. Try one of our free computer lessons for primary school pdf, and explore each course in the grade band:

• Computer Science Foundations K
• Computer Science Foundations 1
• Computer Science Foundations 2

In grades 3-5, inspire your students with courses that spark their creativity. Coding lessons use Scratch, a block based coding language platform, ideal for the transitional and fluent reader. Download a free 3-5 Scratch lesson, and explore each course in the grade band:

• Computer Science Fundamentals 3
• Computer Science Fundamentals 4
• Computer Science Fundamentals 5

Our computer science high school curriculum (grades 9-12) helps empower your students with courses that expand their skills. Coding curriculum for high school uses JavaScript, Java, Python, and Godot to develop websites, programs, and games. Download a free Python lesson to try with your high school students. Explore the courses in this grade band to see each high school coding curriculum pdf:

• High School Computer Science JavaScript
• High School Computer Science Python
• High School Computer Science Java
• High School Computer Science Game Development

Explore our full course offering on our courses page, and learn about the suggested K-12 pathway. To see how Ellipsis Education aligns with national sets of standards, including CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017) and the K-12 Computer Science Framework, visit our K-12 Computer Science Standards page.