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Programmer's Paradise

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Computer Science resources for KS3-4, with a focus on programming. Programming resources include Scratch, Microbit, Small Basic and Visual Basic for now, with other languages potentially in the future, such as C#. I have worked with the AQA specification throughout my teaching career and so these resources will be suitable for anyone teaching the new AQA spec. Please review any resources, suggestions are welcome for improvements etc.

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Computer Science resources for KS3-4, with a focus on programming. Programming resources include Scratch, Microbit, Small Basic and Visual Basic for now, with other languages potentially in the future, such as C#. I have worked with the AQA specification throughout my teaching career and so these resources will be suitable for anyone teaching the new AQA spec. Please review any resources, suggestions are welcome for improvements etc.
Individual QLA Generator
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Individual QLA Generator

(2)
This spreadsheet is used to generate individual QLAs from a whole class QLA. You just copy and paste in the question number, marks and question subject, along with the class scores and it will create individual sheets for students to then rate using a RAG system. The individual QLAs are designed to be 2 per page of A4. The columns auto-resize during the creation of the sheets so be careful if using full names, as it may mean that one sheet is wider than the rest which can cause issues when cutting!
Microbit Board Game Project
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Board Game Project

(1)
This resource was used for Year 7 Computing following a unit involving learning about variables, selection, iteration and random number generation using the Microbit. They loved playing the game, especially as they helped to create it! The idea is to have them use the Microbit as part of the board game. They will program in a dice function for shaking the Microbit, and other features for when they press Button A or B. The game works similarly to Snakes and Ladders. Button A moves the player either forwards or backwards, 6, 4, or 2 spaces (picked randomly by the program), and Button B moves the player up or down by flashing up to 3 up or down arrows (again randomly). Instructions were given via a worksheet, where the first page (two of the tasks) were given in the first lesson and the final one was given at the start of the second. When they had finished their program they could then download it to the Microbit and play their game. My students ended up with between 10-25 minutes playing time depending on how quickly they programmed their game. They can provide their own playing pieces from pencil cases etc. and the board is provided (A4 printout is fine). The code is in the screenshots in the PowerPoint slides and can be made up quickly.
Small Basic Iteration programming lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Small Basic Iteration programming lesson

(1)
Included is a presentation on iteration using Small Basic. Includes some theory and programming tasks, including all of the code required, instruction sheets and code snippets useful for helping students who might otherwise struggle with programming. I have used this with multiple mixed ability Year 8 classes, who have all managed some success with programming. Also included at the end of the presentation is a link to a Kahoot quiz written specifically for this lesson. One of the early tasks involves changing the background colour of the graphics window. Be aware that if students play around with the timing then it could potentially affect students with epilepsy. I made sure that none of my students would be affected before planning this lesson.
Microbit Programming Assessment
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Programming Assessment

(0)
Included is an assessment for the end of a microbit programming unit. Topics included variables, selection, definite and indefinite iteration. The test also includes specific practical knowledge of programming using microbit blocks.
Software Lesson KS3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Software Lesson KS3

(1)
Presentation with information on computer software, including the differences between application, system software and operating systems. This is the fifth lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
Logic Gates KS3 Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Logic Gates KS3 Lesson

(0)
This resource includes a PowerPoint presentation that teaches about logic gates, with a worksheet designed to be used on the computers, and an online link to practically find out about logic gates. It also includes a double sided homework sheet. This is the seventh lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
KS3 Operating Systems (OS) lesson plan  and powerpoint - 60 minute lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS3 Operating Systems (OS) lesson plan and powerpoint - 60 minute lesson

(0)
A 60 minute lesson delivered for Year 8 in an observed lesson. All tasks are on the lesson plan/powerpoint notes, there are more than enough so I have not delivered this lesson using every task. Worth running through the memory game slide to see how the animation works before using it. This is the sixth lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
Microbit Unit of Work
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Microbit Unit of Work

(1)
This Unit of Work includes 10 lessons worth of Microbit programming skills and knowledge. Each lesson has a PowerPoint presentation to go with it, with all other resources also included as Word documents. All resources including PowerPoints are numbered to make it easier to follow the unit, and there is also a teacher’s guide included. The Unit begins with an introduction to Microbits, and concludes with revision, end of unit test and DIRT reflection lesson. Topics included are Variables, Selection, Iteration, and various programming challenges in the form of games that the students can create. It also includes the Microbit Board Game project that takes 2 lessons, which is also available from the Programmer’s Paradise shop on TES Resources. A homework is also included, where the students can create a program using printed code blocks, cut and stick them onto the other half of the paper. This can be used after the first couple of lessons, or later if they are less familiar with the concepts.
Exam Style Python Programming Questions (GCSE AQA)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Exam Style Python Programming Questions (GCSE AQA)

(0)
These questions are used to help students practice longer Python coding questions that they will encounter in GCSE exams. The pseudocode style where included is based on AQA, and each question comes with a mark scheme showing where marks are scored. Again, this is based around AQA’s mark schemes (i.e. awarding marks for including selection, for example). This set contains 8 programming questions and mark schemes for each. In separate uploads I have the powerpoint used in lessons to help deliver specific lessons which build up towards answering the longer programming questions in this set. The order I used them (with the intent of increasing difficulty as we went along): 1 - Phone Bill Calculator 2 - Note Changer 3 - Swimming Pool 4 - Guessing Game 5 - Substrings and functions 6 - Sports Day (function) 7 - Linear Search Array 8 - Inverting Image (2D array)
KS2 / KS3 Scratch Assessment
MrHawes8MrHawes8

KS2 / KS3 Scratch Assessment

(0)
This assessment is similar but more advanced than the introductory Scratch unit assessment in my shop, and includes questions on subroutines and variables as well as algorithms, sequencing, selection and iteration. This is aimed at students who have completed two units of Scratch.
Input and Output Devices KS3 lesson including homework
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Input and Output Devices KS3 lesson including homework

(0)
This resource includes a PowerPoint presentation, starter worksheet (designed to be readable when printed A5 size), and homework sheet (A4). The lesson builds on hardware components and looks at input and output devices. The lesson is the third in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
Computer Systems Lesson KS3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Computer Systems Lesson KS3

(0)
Included in this resource is a PowerPoint, information sheet for students to answer questions about computer systems, and another PowerPoint mix and match activity which the students can use on their computers. This is the first lesson in the How a Computer Works topic.
GCSE Sound File Size worksheets (A5)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE Sound File Size worksheets (A5)

(7)
Two worksheets, the second harder than the first, which can be printed in A5 size. Suitable for GCSE students learning about sound and can build towards practice exam questions. Answers are included in a separate file.
Exam style pseudocode questions (AQA)
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Exam style pseudocode questions (AQA)

(0)
These questions are used to help students practice longer pseudocode questions that they will encounter in GCSE exams. The pseudocode style is based on AQA, and each question comes with a mark scheme showing where marks are scored. Again, this is based around AQA’s mark schemes (i.e. awarding marks for including selection, for example). This set contains 8 pseudocode questions and mark schemes for each. In separate uploads I have the powerpoint used in lessons to help deliver specific lessons which build up towards answering the longer pseudocode questions in this set. The order I used them (with the intent of increasing difficulty as we went along): 1 - Phone Bill Calculator 2 - Note Changer 3 - Swimming Pool 4 - Guessing Game 5 - Substring 6 - Sports Day 7 - Linear Search Array 8 - Inverting Image (2D array)
CPU Lesson KS3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

CPU Lesson KS3

(0)
This resource consists of a PowerPoint presentation giving information about the CPU. It also has links to youtube and revision games to play at the end. This is the fourth lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
Storage KS3 Lesson
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Storage KS3 Lesson

(0)
This resource contains a PowerPoint presentation to introduce different types of storage, another containing questions for the main activity (each will need to be printed for each team), and information sheets for the students to research the answers to the questions. It is best to keep these on the computer, rather than print them for each student. For the main activity, students team up in 3s, and take the first question from the teacher. They use the information sheets to find out the answer, write it down and then bring it up to check with the teacher. If correct, they hand back the first question and take the second. If incorrect, they go back to find the correct answer. The winning team is the first to answer all 10 questions. Questions and answers are also included in a text file for easy access for the teacher. This is the eighth lesson in the topic 'How a Computer Works'.
Hardware Components Lesson KS3
MrHawes8MrHawes8

Hardware Components Lesson KS3

(0)
This PowerPoint can be used to show students the components that go inside a computer. I used a laptop disassembly to go along with this, but have left in slides including images of the different components so it can be used without. Following this the students go online to look at important features of each component, and how they work to make the computer as a whole work. This is the second lesson in the 'How a Computer Works' topic.
GCSE AQA Exam style Python Question 1
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE AQA Exam style Python Question 1

(0)
This is the first in a series of eight Python programming lessons/revision (based on AQA specification) that have helped my GCSE classes improve their long answer programming question technique. The lessons built up towards working with 2D arrays and functions in time for the exams. Included is the exam-style question, mark scheme and the powerpoint used to help deliver a lesson building up towards answering the longer code question. The powerpoint includes information about the specific code features as well as some warm up code questions. Some of the powerpoints include theory as well, for example arrays or string handling if necessary to answer the longer code question.
GCSE AQA Exam style Python Question 2
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE AQA Exam style Python Question 2

(0)
This is the second in a series of eight Python programming lessons/revision (based on AQA specification) that have helped my GCSE classes improve their long answer programming question technique. The lessons built up towards working with 2D arrays and functions in time for the exams. Included is the exam-style question, mark scheme and the powerpoint used to help deliver a lesson building up towards answering the longer code question. The powerpoint includes information about the specific code features as well as some warm up code questions. Some of the powerpoints include theory as well, for example arrays or string handling if necessary to answer the longer code question.
GCSE AQA Exam style Python Question 7
MrHawes8MrHawes8

GCSE AQA Exam style Python Question 7

(0)
This is the seventh in a series of eight Python programming lessons/revision (based on AQA specification) that have helped my GCSE classes improve their long answer programming question technique. The lessons built up towards working with 2D arrays and functions in time for the exams. Included is the exam-style question, mark scheme and the powerpoint used to help deliver a lesson building up towards answering the longer code question. The powerpoint includes information about the specific code features as well as some warm up code questions. Some of the powerpoints include theory as well, for example arrays or string handling if necessary to answer the longer code question.