West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

Computer Programming Grade 8

WestWindsorPlainsboroRSD
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 Unit1:Programming

ContentArea:Technology
Course&GradeLevel:ComputerProgramming,Grade8
SummaryandRationale
ThecoursegoalsforMiddleSchoolComputeraredesignedtofurtherthestudentsknowledgeofthecomputer
anditsapplications.Theysupporttheideathatcomputerliteratestudentscanreason,thinkcritically,solve
problems,obtaininformationelectronically,andcommunicateeffectively.Studentswillunderstandthe
interdisciplinaryconnectionswithcomputersaswellastheirindividualresponsibilityasacitizenofanincreasingly
technologicallyliteratesociety.
RecommendedPacing
45days
StateStandards
Standard8.1EducationalTechnology:Allstudentswillusedigitaltoolstoaccess,manage,evaluate,and
synthesizeinformationinordertosolveproblemsindividuallyandcollaborativelyandtocreateandcommunicate
knowledge.
StrandA.TechnologyOperationsandConcepts
StrandB.CreativityandInnovation

Standard8.2TechnologyEducation,Engineering,andDesign:Allstudentswilldevelopanunderstandingofthe
natureandimpactoftechnology,engineering,technologicaldesign,andthedesignedworld,astheyrelatetothe
individual,globalsociety,andtheenvironment.
StrandB.Design:CriticalThinking,ProblemSolving,andDecisionMaking
StrandG.TheDesignedWorld

CPI# CumulativeProgressIndicator(CPI)
8.1.8.A.3 Createamultimediapresentationincludingsoundandimages.
8.1.8.A.5 Selectanduseappropriatetoolsanddigitalresourcestoaccomplishavarietyoftasksandtosolve
problems.
8.2.8.B.1 Designandcreateaproductthataddressesarealworldproblemusingthedesignprocessand
workingwithspecificcriteriaandconstraints.
8.2.8.B.2 Identifythedesignconstraintsandtradeoffsinvolvedindesigningaprototype(e.g.,howthe
prototypemightfailandhowitmightbeimproved)bycompletingadesignproblemandreporting
resultsinamultimediapresentation.
8.2.8.B.3 Solveasciencebaseddesignchallengeandbuildaprototypeusingscienceandmathprinciples
throughoutthedesignprocess.
8.2.8.G.1 Explainwhyhumandesignedsystems,products,andenvironmentsneedtobeconstantly
monitored,maintained,andimproved.
8.2.8.G.2 Explaintheinterdependenceofasubsystemthatoperatesaspartofasystem.
InstructionalFocus
UnitEnduringUnderstandings
Students should be able to become engaged in critical reasoning and systems thinking in order to build
programming projects. They should have the ability to problem solve in a meaningful context. Students
should know how to implement steps in solving problems by thinking of an idea and breaking it into

WestWindsorPlainsboroRSD
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 componentsofdesign,programming,testinganddebugging.
UnitEssentialQuestions
How will students use the 21st Century learning skills (information and communication skills, thinking and
problemsolving skills, interpersonal and selfdirectional skills) in the design and creation of their computer
programmingprojects?
Objectives: Students will problem solve, use critical thinking skills, demonstrate creative design technique, be
abletoworkindependentlyandaspartofacollaborativeteamandeffectivelycommunicatewithpeers.
Studentswillknow:
Howtoplan,design,program,testanddebugusingavarietyofcomputerprogrammingtechnique,concepts
andlanguages.
Studentswillbeableto:
Designandplanpriortocreatingaproject
Thinklogicallybycreatingsequentialcode
Streamlinebyusingrepetition
Programavarietyofprocedures
Usevariables
Createagameprototype
Designandpaintbackgroundsandcharacters
Incorporateappropriatesoundsintoaproject
Addanimationandinteractivityintoaproject
Importandmanipulategraphicimagesfromavarietyofsources
IncorporatingGUIconcepts(i.e.forms,controls,properties,eventsandcode)
Useofbasicprogrammingfunctionality(i.e.mathematicaloperators,datatypes,variables,decision
making,selection)
Resources
SuggestedResources:
TerrapinLOGO
Scratch
VisualBasic

WestWindsorPlainsboroRSD
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Unit2:HTML

ContentArea:Technology
Course&GradeLevel:ComputerProgramming,Grade8
SummaryandRationale
ThecoursegoalsforMiddleSchoolComputeraredesignedtofurtherthestudentsknowledgeofthecomputer
anditsapplications.Theysupporttheideathatcomputerliteratestudentscanreason,thinkcritically,solve
problems,obtaininformationelectronically,andcommunicateeffectively.Studentswillunderstandthe
interdisciplinaryconnectionswithcomputersaswellastheirindividualresponsibilityasacitizenofanincreasingly
technologicallyliteratesociety.
RecommendedPacing
30days
StateStandards
Standard8.1EducationalTechnology:Allstudentswillusedigitaltoolstoaccess,manage,evaluate,and
synthesizeinformationinordertosolveproblemsindividuallyandcollaborativelyandtocreateandcommunicate
knowledge.
StrandA.TechnologyOperationsandConcepts
StrandB.CreativityandInnovation
StrandD.DigitalCitizenship

Standard8.2TechnologyEducation,Engineering,andDesign:Allstudentswilldevelopanunderstandingofthe
natureandimpactoftechnology,engineering,technologicaldesign,andthedesignedworld,astheyrelatetothe
individual,globalsociety,andtheenvironment.
StrandB.Design:CriticalThinking,ProblemSolving,andDecisionMaking

CPI# CumulativeProgressIndicator(CPI)
8.1.8.A.5 Selectanduseappropriatetoolsanddigitalresourcestoaccomplishavarietyoftasksandtosolve
problems.
8.1.8.B.1 Synthesizeandpublishinformationaboutalocalorglobalissueoreventonacollaborative,web
basedservice(alsoknownasasharedhostedservice).
8.1.8.D.1 Modelappropriateonlinebehaviorsrelatedtocybersafety,cyberbullying,cybersecurity,and
cyberethics.
8.2.8.B.2 Identifythedesignconstraintsandtradeoffsinvolvedindesigningaprototype(e.g.,howthe
prototypemightfailandhowitmightbeimproved)bycompletingadesignproblemandreporting
resultsinamultimediapresentation.
InstructionalFocus
UnitEnduringUnderstandings
Studentsshouldbeabletobecomeengagedincriticalreasoningandsystemsthinkinginordertoauthoran
HTMLwebpage.Theyshouldhavetheabilitytoproblemsolveandimplementstepsbydesign,programming,
testingthewebpage.
Students should be able to access and retrieve information using a Web Browser and an on line Internet
ServiceProvider.
StudentsshouldbeabletocreateWebpagesusingawebauthoringsoftware.

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UnitEssentialQuestions
HowdoesoneauthorawebpageusingHTML?
Howdoesoneconstructawebpageaestheticallypleasing?
Howdoesonefollowguidelinesofproperetiquettewhenauthoringawebpage?
Objectives: Students will problem solve, use critical thinking skills, demonstrate creative design technique, be
abletoworkindependentlyandaspartofacollaborativeteamandeffectivelycommunicatewithpeers.
Studentswillknow:
Howtoplan,designandprogramawebpageusingHTML.
Studentswillbeableto:
Designandplanpriortocreatingaproject
Thinklogicallybycreatingsequentialcode
Designandformatawebusingpropertagsyntaxandattributesincludingtext,hyperlinksand
graphicimages
Importandmanipulategraphicimagesfromavarietyofsources
Convertgraphics,animations,andsoundssotheywillbeabletobeusedinanHTMLwebpage.
Usetablesinwebpagedesign
Properuseofdocumentsections(head,body)
UseproperHTMLformattingcommands
Tolinktootherwebsitesfromtheirwebpageusingawebauthoringtool.
Resources
SuggestedResources:
HTML
Notepad
Photoeditingsoftware
MicrosoftWord

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Unit3:Robotics

ContentArea:Technology
Course&GradeLevel:ComputerProgramming,Grade8
SummaryandRationale
ThecoursegoalsforMiddleSchoolComputeraredesignedtofurtherthestudentsknowledgeofthecomputer
anditsapplications.Theysupporttheideathatcomputerliteratestudentscanreason,thinkcritically,solve
problems,obtaininformationelectronically,andcommunicateeffectively.Studentswillunderstandthe
interdisciplinaryconnectionswithcomputersaswellastheirindividualresponsibilityasacitizenofanincreasingly
technologicallyliteratesociety.
RecommendedPacing
15days
StateStandards
Standard8.1EducationalTechnology:Allstudentswillusedigitaltoolstoaccess,manage,evaluate,and
synthesizeinformationinordertosolveproblemsindividuallyandcollaborativelyandtocreateandcommunicate
knowledge.
StrandA.TechnologyOperationsandConcepts

Standard8.2TechnologyEducation,Engineering,andDesign:Allstudentswilldevelopanunderstandingofthe
natureandimpactoftechnology,engineering,technologicaldesign,andthedesignedworld,astheyrelatetothe
individual,globalsociety,andtheenvironment.
StrandB.Design:CriticalThinking,ProblemSolving,andDecisionMaking
StrandE.CommunicationandCollaboration
StrandF.ResourcesforaTechnologicalWorld

CPI# CumulativeProgressIndicator(CPI)
8.1.8.A.5 Selectanduseappropriatetoolsanddigitalresourcestoaccomplishavarietyoftasksandtosolve
problems.
8.1.8.E.1 Gatherandanalyzefindingsusingdatacollectiontechnologytoproduceapossiblesolutionfora
contentrelatedorrealworldproblem.
8.2.8.B.1 Designandcreateaproductthataddressesarealworldproblemusingthedesignprocessand
workingwithspecificcriteriaandconstraints.
8.2.8.B.2 Identifythedesignconstraintsandtradeoffsinvolvedindesigningaprototype(e.g.,howthe
prototypemightfailandhowitmightbeimproved)bycompletingadesignproblemandreporting
resultsinamultimediapresentation.
8.2.8.B.3 Solveasciencebaseddesignchallengeandbuildaprototypeusingscienceandmathprinciples
throughoutthedesignprocess.
8.2.8.E.1 Workincollaborationwithpeersandexpertsinthefieldtodevelopaproductusingthedesign
process,dataanalysis,andtrends,andmaintainadigitallogwithannotatedsketchestorecordthe
developmentcycle.
8.2.8.F.1 Explaintheimpactofresourceselectionandprocessinginthedevelopmentofacommon
technologicalproductorsystem.
InstructionalFocus
UnitEnduringUnderstandings

WestWindsorPlainsboroRSD
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 Studentsshouldbeabletodesignandcreatearobot
Studentswillprogramandcontroltherobotusingacomputer.
UnitEssentialQuestions
Howdoesoneuseprogrammingtechniquesandskillswhilecreatingandgivingcommandstoarobot?
Howdoesoneadaptprogrammingskillsusedinpreviousunitstoprogramarobot?
Objectives: Students will problem solve, use critical thinking skills, demonstrate creative design technique, be
abletoworkindependentlyandaspartofacollaborativeteamandeffectivelycommunicatewithpeers.
Studentswillknow:
Howtoplan,design,program,testanddebugusingroboticsoftware
Howtocreatearobotandrunitbyprogrammingaseriesofinstructionsonthecomputer.
Studentswillbeableto:
Designandplanpriortocreatingaproject
Thinklogicallybycreatingsequentialcode
Engagedincriticalreasoningandsystemsthinkinginordertobuildarobot.
Buildmachinesusingbuildingblocks
Properlyconnectequipmenttothecomputer
Writeaprogramwhichwillcontrolthemotors,lightsandsensorsoftheirmachine
Runtestsonamachineduringvariousstepsofthecreationprocessdebuggingwherenecessary
Useofhandsonexplorationanddiscoveryinengineeringmodelsandbuildinginventions
Program,download,test,record,andevaluateamodelsprogrammedbehavior
Performaseriesoftasksusingthemachine
Workcooperativelywithothermembersoftheclass
Takeleadershiprolesduringvariousstagesoftheproject
Resources
SuggestedResources:
LEGOMindstorms
MicrosoftOffice

WestWindsorPlainsboroRSD
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