Don’t Stress the Code: Resources for Alberta’s New Elementary Science Curriculum
The new Alberta K-6 Science curriculum is here, and it’s full of exciting new topics for our students to explore. But for many teachers across the province, one particular area has caused a fair bit of stress: the inclusion of computer science!
The idea of teaching coding, abstraction, and computational thinking can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s a new subject for you. You might be asking yourself:
-
How do I even begin to teach these concepts?
-
What resources are out there that are aligned with the new Alberta science curriculum?
-
How can I fit this new content into an already packed science schedule?
I hear you, and I’m here to help. I’ve spent months meticulously creating a suite of no-prep workbooks specifically designed to tackle this challenge, with ready-to-use resources for Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Why Computer Science in Elementary School?
The new curriculum recognizes that a foundational understanding of computer science is essential for our students’ future. It’s not just about writing code; it’s about developing problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and creativity. The curriculum focuses on core concepts like:
-
Abstraction: Simplifying complex problems by focusing on the most important details (Grades 5 & 6).
-
Algorithms: Following a set of instructions to solve a problem (Grade 4).
-
Sequences, Conditionals, and Loops: The fundamental building blocks of code (Grade 6).
My Solution: Grade-Specific, No-Prep Workbooks
I’ve taken the stress out of teaching this new material by creating comprehensive workbooks that you can use in your classroom today. These aren’t just generic worksheets; they are a deep dive into the specific KUSPs (Knowledge, Understanding, Skills, and Procedures) of the Alberta Science curriculum.