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Puzzles Track

Understanding algorithms and coding concepts through puzzle activities

Full-year course · 30 lessons · 1 unit

Pacing options
PacingLessons
1x/month11
2-3x/month22
4x/month30
  • Block Coding
  • Launch Pad
  • Year
  • 3rd grade
  • 4th grade
  • 5th grade

Course Summary

Students learn how to create algorithms and gain a fundamental understanding of coding concepts trhough puzzle programming. This course includes an assessment, which you can assign to students from the Manage Assessments page. It is not automatically assigned when you assign the course.

Course Outline

    1. Hardware Students discuss and learn about hardware that makes up a computer.
    2. Software Review the different software that computers use.
    3. Troubleshooting Learn various ways to troubleshoot computer issues when they arise!
    4. Computer Systems and the Internet In this lesson, you will learn about computers as systems working together to share information.
    5. What is an Algorithm? In this lesson, you will be introduced to what algorithms are.
    6. Sequencing and Algorithms This lesson shows how sequencing works with algorithms. Learn how to build your own algorithm!
    7. The Design Process, Building Your Own Puzzle, and Debugging In this lesson, you will practice the design process and program your own unique puzzle.
    8. Kindness Discuss and learn about the valuable trait of kindness as a foundation for digital citizenship
    9. Cyberbullying Learn about cyberbullying and how to stand up against it.
    10. Events Events are what make things happen! Events are interactive and fun. Learn how to use an event in your code.
    11. Building Your Own Puzzle - Events In this lesson, you practice building your own unique puzzle using events.
    12. Decision Making: Intent vs. Impact Learn about decision making and digital citizenship.
    13. Digital Footprint Learn how to have a positive and private footprint on the computer and internet.
    14. Variables Variables are super useful in programming. Learn how to use variables in your program.
    15. Build Your Own Puzzle - Variables In this lesson, you practice building your own unique puzzle and practice using variables.
    16. Internet Safety and Cybersecurity Learn tips on how to be safe on the internet and protect their personal information in this lesson.
    17. Encryption and Decoding Learn about and practice encryption and decoding in this lesson.
    18. Conditionals IF this THEN that. Conditionals help you customize your code to do what you want exactly when you want it.
    19. Build Your Own Puzzle - Conditionals Practice conditionals and building your own unique puzzle in this lesson!
    20. Computers' Effect on Culture In this lesson, examine how computers and technology have had an impact on culture.
    21. Impacts of Computing Learn about the impact computing technologies have.
    22. Accessibility and Improving Artifacts Learn about accessibility and improving programming for usability in this lesson.
    23. Loops Is programming throwing you for a loop? Don't worry! In this lesson, you will learn how to use loops to your advantage.
    24. Build Your Own Puzzle - Loops Practice the design process with creating a puzzle with loops
    25. File Management Learn about the different types of file extensions and managing files in this lesson.
    26. Data In this lesson, you learn about collecting and analyzing data.
    27. Binary Data Learn about binary data and how computers use the language to store information.
    28. Effective Research Strategies Learn tips and tools for effective research in this lesson.
    29. Copyright and the Public Domain
    30. Team Project Work with a team to build a unique puzzle. Combine all you have learned about programming puzzles and build your own in this team project.

Standard Alignment

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards

  • 1B-AP-08
  • 1B-AP-09
  • 1B-AP-10
  • 1B-AP-11
  • 1B-AP-12
  • 1B-AP-13
  • 1B-AP-14
  • 1B-AP-15
  • 1B-AP-16
  • 1B-AP-17
  • 1B-CS-01
  • 1B-CS-02
  • 1B-CS-03
  • 1B-DA-06
  • 1B-DA-07
  • 1B-IC-18
  • 1B-IC-19
  • 1B-IC-20
  • 1B-IC-21
  • 1B-NI-04
  • 1B-NI-05

State standards documents

Document Standards Grades
National
2022 Skill Struck Standards Alignment + Correlation Guide CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards · 2022 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Alabama
Alabama Course of Study Digital Literacy and CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Alabama Course of Study Digital Literacy and CS Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Arizona
Arizona Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Arizona Computer Science Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
California
California K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment California K-12 CS Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Florida
Florida Introduction to Computer Science 2 + Skill Struck Alignment Florida Introduction to Computer Science 2 3-5
Georgia
Georgia Standards of Excellence for K-8 Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Georgia Standards of Excellence for K-8 Computer Science K-2, 3-5, 6-8
Idaho
Idaho Content Standards Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Idaho Content Standards Computer Science · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Illinois
Illinois Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Illinois Computer Science Standards · 2022 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Indiana
Indiana K-12 Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Indiana K-12 Computer Science Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Iowa
Iowa Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Iowa Computer Science Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Kansas
Kansas CS Standards P-12 + Skill Struck Alignment Kansas CS Standards P-12 · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Kentucky
Kentucky Academic Standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Kentucky Academic Standards for Computer Science · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Maryland
Maryland K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Maryland K-12 CS Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Michigan
Michigan K-12 Standards Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Michigan K-12 Standards Computer Science · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Mississippi
Mississippi College and Career Readiness standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Mississippi College and Career Readiness standards for Computer Science · 2022 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Missouri
Missouri K-12 Computer Science Performance Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Missouri K-12 Computer Science Performance Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Nebraska
Nebraska K-12 Technology Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Nebraska K-12 Technology Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Nevada
Nevada Academic Content Standards for CS + Skill Struck Alignment Nevada Academic Content Standards for CS K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Nevada Academic Content Standards for Integrated Technology + Skill Struck Alignment Nevada Academic Content Standards for Integrated Technology K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
New Jersey
New Jersey Computer Science and Design Thinking Standards + Skill Struck Alignment New Jersey Computer Science and Design Thinking Standards · 2020 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
New York
New York Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards K-12 + Skill Struck Alignment New York Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards K-12 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
North Carolina
North Carolina K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment North Carolina K-12 CS Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Ohio
Ohio's Learning Standards Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Ohio's Learning Standards Computer Science · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Rhode Island
Rhode Island's K-12 CS Education Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Rhode Island's K-12 CS Education Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
South Carolina
South Carolina Computer Science and Digital Literacy Standards + Skill Struck Alignment South Carolina Computer Science and Digital Literacy Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8
Tennessee
Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Texas
TEKs Technology Applications K-8 Standards + Skill Struck Alignment TEKs Technology Applications K-8 Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8
Utah
Utah K-5 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Utah K-5 CS Standards K-2, 3-5
Virginia
Virginia K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Virginia K-12 CS Standards · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Washington
Washington K-12 CS State Learning Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Washington K-12 CS State Learning Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment Wisconsin Standards for Computer Science · 2023 K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Wyoming
Wyoming Computer Science Content Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Wyoming Computer Science Content Standards · 2020 K-2, 3-5, 6-8

Course Project

In this course, students will complete the following projects: Build Your Own Puzzle and Team Puzzle. This will help students develop an understanding of creating algorithms through puzzle activities and practice their coding concepts.

Custom puzzle
  • Puzzles Track: a student-built block-coding maze puzzle
    Build Your Own Puzzle
  • Puzzles Track: a finished block-coding maze with its code
    Completed Maze