PUZZLE / ACTIVITY SHEETS

 Sequencing and Looping Puzzles

 Put events from life cycles in to a flow chart structure
 Learn about sequences, loops and design stages of
coding
 Aimed at KS1 pre-coders
 Pattern Matching Puzzles
 including …
 Data Pattern Puzzles
 Algorithmic Pattern Puzzles
 Pseudocode Pattern Puzzles
 Pattern matching: spot them, complete them and spot the
odd one out
 Learn about pattern matching and algorithmic thinking
 Puzzles for KS1-precoders upwards to KS5
 Spot the Difference Puzzles
 Spot the difference: focus on the detail and find all the
differences in images and in programs
 Practice attention to detail.
 Puzzles for KS2 upwards
 Word Searches
 Solve word search puzzles and learn about
computational thinking and search algorithms.
 Learn about linear search, algorithmic thinking,
computational thinking.
 Kriss-Kross Puzzles
 Solve these word puzzles as a way to develop logical
thinking and pattern matching skills needed to enjoy
both computing and maths, while practicing spelling.
 Bakuro
 Solve simple logical thinking puzzles and gain a deeper
understanding of binary and how it is based on powers
of two.
 Learn about binary representation of numbers,
logical thinking, computational thinking.
 Number Hive Puzzles
  Solve simple logical thinking puzzles and gain a deeper
understanding oflogical thinking and pattern matching.
 Learn about logical thinking, deduction, rewrite rules,
pattern matching, abstraction, generalisation
and computational thinking.
 Cut Block Puzzles
 Solve simple logical thinking puzzles and gain a deeper
understanding of logical thinking and pattern matching.
 Learn about logical thinking, deduction, rewrite rules,
pattern matching, abstraction, generalisation
and computational thinking.
 4×4 Sudoku Puzzles
 Solve simple logical thinking puzzles and practice
logical thinking and thinking clearly.
 Learn about logical thinking.
 Pixel Puzzles
 Solve simple logical thinking puzzles and gain a deeper
understanding of image representation and
compression.
 Learn about pixel representation of images, compression
algorithms, data representation, logical thinking,
computational thinking.
 Compression Code Puzzles
 Solve simple puzzles about words that involve decoding
compressed messages.
 Learn about compression algorithms, data
representation, pattern matching, computational
thinking.
 Code Cracking Puzzles
 Solve code breaking puzzles and learn not just about
codes but also language, calculating frequencies and
percentages.
 Learn about cryptographic algorithms, frequency
analysis, algorithmic thinking, computational thinking.
 The Chocolate Turing Machine
 Create “instruction tables” that solve computational
problems.
  Learn about Turing machines, computation, symbol
manipulation, low-level programming, data
representation.
 The Tour Guide Activity
 Devise a tour that gets a tourist from their hotel to all
the city sights and back to their hotel.
 Learn about algorithms, sequences of instructions,
graphs, data representation, computational thinking,
requirements.
 The Knight’s Tour Activity
 Solve a puzzle where you must find a way for a knight to
visit every square on a board exactly once.
 Learn about graphs, data representation, generalisation,
abstraction, pattern matching computational thinking,
graph traversal algorithms algorithms.
1. Learn Scratch Coding with Kahoot

Join us for a fun-filled hour to play a set of Kahoot! games and review coding concepts
students have learned in Scratch coding classes. We will play 3 levels - starting from
level 1, all the way to Level 3. Everyone is welcome to join. You can play Kahoot! from a
phone, tablet, or computer.

2. Minecraft Coding Intro - TimeTravel!

Does your child love Minecraft? This awesome 1-hour free event will introduce your
child to another dimension of Minecraft - Learn Coding!. We will setup Minecraft
Education first and then get everyone started on a self-guided tutorial that teaches
basics of block coding on Minecraft. Your child will be introduced to Minecraft coding
by completing a series of challenges with code to save the future by solving mysterious
mishaps in time.

3. Free Intro to Scratch Coding

Geared for grades 2-5, this beginner coding class explores the fundamentals of the
Scratch interface during an online live tutorial. Kids can see programs created by other
students and work together to build their own game. The small group setting (max 5
students per class) lends itself to plenty of hands-on, interactive learning.
4. Creative Minecraft Building

Join this free, live virtual event to start creating with one of the most powerful elements
in Minecraft - Redstone. Through a series of fun activities and puzzle-solving, students
will be introduced to how different power sources such as Redstone blocks, torches, and
switches can be used to power blocks around them in different ways. These skills will
form the foundation of creating more advanced structures that can be powered up or
automated. The same event is run once every month.

5. AI Explorers – Introduction

Kids in grades 4-6 who are interested in AI can register for this free online event. From
self-driving cars, humanoids to AI generated art and ChatGPT, AI is one of the fast
growing areas in technology. What is AI? What are some of the cool things it can do?
Join this event to learn fun cutting-edge AI applications created by companies like
Google and Nvidia. Your child will enjoy lots of group discussions, interaction with the
instructor, and hands-on projects.

6. Beginner Roblox Game Coding

Join this fun free intro class for students in grades 3-8 to get a taste of what creating
Roblox games is like, and start learning Roblox coding! This class is designed for
students who have not had any prior experience with Roblox Studio, the official tool for
building Roblox games. We help students install and activate Roblox Studio, and go
through a step-by-step tutorial to build an interactive Obby game with different shapes,
colors, and materials!

7. Accelerated Scratch – Intro to Coding for Middle Schoolers

Kids in grades 5-9 will relish the chance to learn Scratch…from scratch! In under one
hour, they’ll be able to practice core coding concepts and build their own project.
Geared for middle and high schoolers, this live online class is a confidence booster for
budding coders.

8. Free Intro to Python Coding

Students who excelled in Scratch can take their block coding experience and advance to
the next level with text-based coding. Designed for grades 5-9, this intermediate-level
class will focus on how to animate and draw with Python. Kids will also build their own
story project while creating animation.
9. Minecraft Escape Estate

In this small group live online class for students in grades 2-7, kids can learn basic
coding concepts as they escape Dr. Breakowski’s mysterious mansion! Plus they'll solve
puzzles using computational thinking to unlock secrets, open trap doors, and reveal
hidden clues.

10. Dance Party

In this fun live online session led by an expert, students code a dance party with music
by Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, and more, to share with their friends! This small group class
is best for students in grades 2-5, and introduces kids to beginner-friendly coding
concepts.

Computer science activities that don't

require a computer!
Updated: Nov 10, 2022
Computer Science Ed Week presents an opportunity for caregivers and educators to bring
computer science to their learners. But don’t you need to be a programmer or computer expert to
teach computer science?

Not at all! Computational Thinking skills are fundamental in computer science and are actually
pretty common both at home and in the classroom. Here are some ways (including free lesson
plans and activities) to set your learners up for success with Computational Thinking — and
there’s a good chance you’ve already started.

First, a pep talk!

YOU CAN DO THIS. You do not need to know how to code or how a circuit board works to get
your learners excited about Computational Thinking. It’s not just a technical skill, but a problem-
solving mindset. You encourage your learners to solve problems every day. We’re going to help
you recognize how you already do this and give you some simple tips to do more.

Think like a computer

Some of the best programmers in the world got their start without ever writing a line of code.
They know how to break down complex problems, recognize patterns, write instructions
(algorithms) and pull out what’s important to solve the problem. Your learners likely do this
already, no matter the subject you teach.
Did they break down the phonics of a word or classify species? Sounds like decomposition and
pattern recognition to us. Did they follow a recipe or use FOIL? Looks like they used an
algorithm to work through a problem. Computational Thinking is a core problem-solving process
that can be used by anyone!

Our Tech Academies team breaks down how this works in this Tech Tip: Computational
Thinking guide, created in partnership with our friends at San Jose State University, College of
Science.

Bonus! Put up these posters in your digital or physical classroom or share them with a learner
who needs some problem-solving inspo. Also, available in Spanish.

Unplugged Activities
You don’t need technology like robotics or video games to teach computer science. Instead of
getting overwhelmed planning a really technical lesson, one easy goal for #CSEdWeek is to
count how many times you’ve asked your learners to solve a problem or recognize a pattern.
Give yourself extra credit for drawing that career connection for students: “Great observation!
Computer scientists also use patterns. Could be an interesting career for you.”
1. Butterfly Algorithms

This fun activity is ideal for younger learners. As they study the life cycle of butterflies, you can
use this activity to demonstrate how the different stages of that life cycle are like an algorithm.
An algorithm is essentially logical steps in a process, like instructions or directions, and it's a key
aspect of computational thinking. You can stop there, or take it an extra step by having them
program it on a computer using Scratch, which is free and open-source.
2. Get in the Game

Board games are a fun way of passing the time with friends and family, but did you ever wish
you could create your own? In this activity, you will use computational thinking to design your
own board game! Find the guide and lesson plan here.

We love this activity because it also comes with a series of videos featuring Dr. Siobhan Day
Grady, Ph.D., an associate professor currently researching Artificial Intelligence and self-driving
cars. It’s a great way to also break stereotypes and help girls and students of color see themselves
in STEM.

This activity was developed with the support of the Association of Science and Technology
Centers (ASTC) and the If/Then Initiative, part of whose mission is to inspire girls to pursue
interests in STEM careers by better representing women in STEM through media and learning
experiences.
3. Responsible Reservoirs

In this game, you’re the mayor of a small town and have to make some hard decisions about the
effects of a water dam on the environment and your citizens. The game teaches decomposition
with environmental flair — and is a great real-world scenario. Bonus! It was developed by a
cohort of teachers just like you in our Tech Academies program. Find the activity guide here.
4. Decontamination Algorithm

While it can be obvious when something has visible dirt on it, it’s harder to tell when something
has invisible contamination that needs to be cleaned away! Sticky handprints from a PB&J
sandwich, food and pet allergens, pollen, and germs can all be hard to spot. Can you create a
series of questions, or an algorithm, to help figure out what surfaces have been touched and
contaminated? Find the activity guide and awesome how-to video.
Bonus Holiday twist: Ask your students to track down who ate the last holiday cookie or find
where presents are hidden.
5. Puzzling Procedures

In this fun activity, you’ll think like a computer by applying computational thinking skills to
jigsaw puzzles. In addition to doing a puzzle, you’ll create an algorithm or set of instructions to
help someone else solve jigsaw puzzles. Find the activity guide here, educator lesson plan and
digital puzzles here.
6. Redistricting Unplugged

This activity for older learners examines the real-world puzzle of redistricting. Creating an
unbiased map can be so complex, some governments have turned to computer scientists to figure
it out. In this activity, students use abstraction to try to draw their own version of an electoral
map. Find the lesson plan here.