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Virginia Computer Science Grade 8

This course walks students through the basics of coding with Python alongside other topics such as digital citizenship, the internet, and data.

Semester course · 43 lessons · 3 units

  • Python
  • Voyage
  • Semester
  • 8th grade
  • Virginia course

Course Summary

The curriculum includes coding exercises and practice on the Skill Struck platform interspersed with classroom collaboration activities, discussion points, supplemental materials, and unplugged activities. This course walks students through the basics of coding alongside other topics. This integrated approach keeps lessons diverse and students engaged. Students work individually and as teams to build innovative and competitive coding solutions.

Course Outline

    1. Computer Parts and Pieces Learn the different parts that make up a computer!
    2. Introduction Welcome to Python! This lesson gives a great introduction to Python programming and will get you up and coding in no time.
    3. Variables Variables are an important part of programming. Let's find out how we can use them in this lesson.
    4. From Electricity to a Bit Learn how information moves through computer components to generate the programs you enjoy.
    5. Input/Output Writing programs that can get input from the user is a valuable skill.
    6. Introduction to Algorithms Learn what an algorithm is and where they are in your life.
    7. Visualizing Algorithms Learn how to create flow charts to visualize your algorithms.
    8. Syntax & Comments This lesson covers basic Python syntax and how to add comments to your code.
    9. Algorithms in Computer Programming Practice building algorithms for computer programming!
    10. Network Topologies Learn how different layouts of networks can help information move more efficiently
    11. Variable Types There are lots of different ways that you can store data in Python. This lesson covers a few of those data types.
    12. Numbers This lesson covers different types of numbers that you can use in Python.
    13. Troubleshooting Learn some strategies for fixing computer problems.
    14. Error Messages & Debugging

    1. Converting This lesson covers how to convert one data type into another.
    2. Digital Citizenship Learn about digital citizenship and how you can be responsible with your technology.
    3. Python Concatenation Connecting strings together can be very useful. Let's take a look at how this can be accomplished.
    4. Python Math Math is an important part of programming. This lesson covers how we can use math in Python.
    5. Modulus This lesson covers using modulus in Python. We will take a look at its usefulness including how to tell if a number is even or odd.
    6. Rogue Access Points Learn what access points are and explore how someone might exploit them.
    7. Encryption Learn how encryption helps make things more secure.
    8. Strings Strings in programming are a lot different than strings in real life. Let's see how useful strings are in Python.
    9. Computer Innovations Explore how different computer innovations have affected our everyday lives.
    10. String Methods Python provides methods or actions that we can take on our strings. This lesson will teach us some of the basic methods we can use.
    11. Cyber Bullying
    12. String Methods Continued This lesson continues the topic of methods that we can use with strings.
    13. Cybersecurity Posture Learn about different ways you can stay safe while using the internet.
    14. The Digital Divide

    1. Checking Strings Searching strings for certain characters, words or phrases is easy in Python!
    2. Simulations
    3. History of Computer Science Timeline Learn about the history of computer science and see how far we have come!
    4. Lists Lists are one of the main ways that we organize data in most programming languages. This lesson covers how to use lists in Python.
    5. Python If Statements If statements allow you to decide what code should run depending on some conditions. This lesson will cover the basics on using if statements in Python.
    6. Python Conditionals This lesson covers conditionals and how you can use them to compare data. We will also use if statements to execute code based on the conditionals.
    7. Python Else If Statements Else If statements in Python allow you to add multiple if statements at once. The possibilities are endless!
    8. Python For Loops This lesson covers For Loops and how to use them in Python. You will also learn how to access each item in a list using a For Loop.
    9. Intro to the Internet Learn what a network is and what parts of our lives interact with networks.
    10. Python Functions Functions are a great way to break up long sections of code and can be used multiple times without having to rewrite them.
    11. Python Function Parameters One of the great things about functions is that we can pass parameters to them and the function can handle the rest.
    12. AI, Machine Learning, & Automation Learn how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation are affecting your world and potential changes in the future.
    13. Python While Loops While loops are looping code structures that run WHILE something is true.
    14. Nested For Loops This lesson covers the use of nested for loops when working with 2D lists.
    15. Team Project and the Software Development Life Cycle

Standard Alignment

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards

  • 2-AP-10
  • 2-AP-11
  • 2-AP-12
  • 2-AP-13
  • 2-AP-14
  • 2-AP-15
  • 2-AP-16
  • 2-AP-17
  • 2-AP-19
  • 2-DA-07
  • 2-IC-20
  • 2-IC-23
  • 2-NI-05
  • 2-NI-06
  • 3A-AP-13
  • 3A-AP-14
  • 3A-AP-15
  • 3A-AP-16
  • 3A-AP-17
  • 3A-AP-18
  • 3A-AP-23
  • 3B-AP-10
  • 3B-AP-11
  • 3B-AP-14
  • 3B-AP-19
  • 3B-AP-21
  • 3B-AP-22
  • 3B-NI-04
  • Aligned to 4 Florida standards

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
Arkansas
Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Standards Middle School Introduction to Coding Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Standards Middle School Introduction to Coding Standards · 2023 6-8
California
California K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment California K-12 CS Standards K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
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 6-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment Utah 6-12 CS Standards · 2019 6-8, 9-12
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 challenges that help solidify concepts as they use skills in a variety of ways. In order to complete tasks, students will creatively apply what they've learned by using different approaches to reach a goal. This experience closely follows challenges they would face in a technical interview, allowing them to practice. Some examples of projects: Find the Tens Place, Remove String Section, Leap Year, Factorial, Halloween Candy Count