December highlights for IT teachers
Creative challenges and innovative activities to keep learners engaged in the run-up to Christmas
The last few weeks of term are approaching, but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. While you’re striving to teach your classes about key technical skills and different programs, pupils will thank you for bringing some fun and festivities into the classroom. Here are some hand-picked resources that do just that.
Puzzles and activities using IT
Make recapping key computer science terminology more interesting with this resource where learners create their own dictionaries and use the definitions to make a game. Alternatively, challenge your class to this chocolate-themed data activity, which asks them to collect data from packaging and analyse it in Excel using functions and formulas. If you really want to embrace the festive spirit, however, have a look at this spreadsheet-based mission to save Santa. The IT snowman word search could also be just the thing to kick off a lesson in the last week of term.
Computational Thinking Starter Puzzles
Get your students into the right mindset from the off with these fantastic starter activities! With 20 different puzzles for your students to try and solve, there are enough activities to cover a full 8 week term! This resource includes a range of puzzles such as code breaking, symbol grids, number pyramids, understanding algorithms and many more!
Solutions included!
KS3 Santa Spreadsheet Task Sheet
MM Challenge
Computer Science Christmas Word Search - Input and Output Devices - xmas
Programming games and activities
Check out these resources if you want to get your students using programs - including Python and Scratch - to design games and puzzles with a festive twist!
End of Term / Secondary Induction FUN Lesson - Create a PowerPoint Maze Game (Scary or Nice)!
Update: The files marked NEW! include a template for this resource which already has the hyperlinks included in PowerPoint; so if you’re tight on time, students can still make use of this resource without having to learn how to make links. Along with this are 6 challenges (differentiated) and a log for students to complete and take with them - PERFECT for Year 6 Induction in a computer room/IT/Computing lesson.
As it’s the end of term, this fun activity still gets students learning about how to add hyperlinks into PowerPoint presentations. The scary maze can be changed for Santa’s maze, if you’re aiming to do something ‘Christmassy’!
The activity gets students to create a version of the ‘scary maze game’ (Google it!). They find a scary image that, if their users hit the wall of their maze, will flash on the screen (after slides are linked). I don’t want students having nightmares though, so I have provided an alternative ‘nicer maze game’ too!
Included is a student handout, PowerPoint to act as a short lesson guide (two versions - scary and nicer) as well as a scream sound for students to use if placed on a shared area.
As always, feedback is welcome! Enjoy!
*Copyright - I either own everything or it comes from an acknowledged, royalty free source!
Python Programming Christmas Activities
This resource includes 7 Christmas themed, stand alone activities for students learning how to program using Python.
The activities go from basic activities to more complex tasks. Some of the skills and knowledge tested includes using input, FOR and WHILE loops, string manipulation, lists, exporting to an external file and importing from an external file.
A Scratching (Scratch) Christmas scene - make it snow!
Make the snow fall in a fun snow scene.
All assets are included as we learn how to make the snow fall in this fun Xmas themed lesson!
