In this activity, students will be introduced to how and when clones are used in game development. To gain this knowledge, students will first be introduced to a game that does not incorporate clones and then discuss how the game could be enhanced through the use of clones. Students will then complete a code-along activity where they will learn how to create a clone in Scratch. Finally, students will create their own game that incorporates clones and then discuss the games they created in a pair and share activity. The lesson plan for coding includes links to the appropriate materials and resources, a detailed procedure, activity tips, and a bonus challenge activity.

Ellipsis Education provides K-12 computer science curriculum. This lesson represents Ellipsis Education Computer Science Fundamentals courses, made for grades 3-5. Inspire your students with courses that spark their creativity. Coding lesson plans for elementary use Scratch, a block based coding language, ideal for the transitional and fluent reader. Learn more about each Computer Science Fundamentals course below.

Explore fundamental computer science skills by building coding and debugging projects. Expand understanding of variables, loops, and conditionals. Discuss internet safety, real-world technology, and STEM careers.

Establish fundamental computer science skills. Understand concepts like variables, parameters, and comparison operators. Discuss ethical Internet behaviors and problem solving strategies, and STEM careers.

Reinforce fundamental programming concepts and experiment with advanced coding. Understand the applications of booleans, loops, and arrays. Evaluate online activity and the impacts of computing on society.

Many schools are implementing computer science programs for elementary students, which means teachers are expanding their knowledge into this content area. There are many benefits of becoming an elementary computer science teacher. First, elementary school computer science teachers begin with less complex coding languages. In general, young students begin their computer science coding journeys with block coding. Rather than having to write complex lines of code, teachers and students can use a visual drag-and-drop interface to create. This is especially nice for teachers that do not have as much technological experience; Scratch and Blockly are two popular block coding sites to explore.

Second, computer science is cross curricular and can be applied to many other areas of instruction. This is particularly helpful since elementary teachers usually teach all classroom subjects. Students can write stories and animate them using block coding to reinforce English / Language Arts standards. Students also use the coordinate plane when block coding, which reinforces math standards. This helps elementary school computer science teachers create a rich and immersive experience for students.

Finally, elementary computer science teachers have the opportunity to think about how to prepare for computer science in high school. The earlier students discover computer science, the more skills they will be able to apply in the future. The basic building blocks of coding taught in elementary school, such as loops, functions, and conditionals, can be applied to more complex languages. Students also practice the communication, collaboration, computational thinking, and creative skills they will need to be successful later in their educational careers. 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.

Looking for more? Here are other downloads that are representative of Ellipsis Education Computer Science Fundamentals for grades 3-5. Download Ellipsis Education free computer science lessons to get your students excited about CS in the classroom, including another one of our scratch activities for students.

• Coding: Treasure Map Coordinates

• Digital Citizenship: What’s in the News?

• Digital Citizenship: Old Computers, New Problems

• STEM Career: Aviation