Computing
Welcome to Computing!
Computing is on our National Curriculum and it is split into three strands: Computer Science (programming or coding, and problem solving); Information Technology (using spreadsheets, creating presentations and manipulating graphics); and Digital Literacy (encompassing e-safety and teaching pupils how to select the most appropriate digital content). As a school we have chosen to use Purple Mash Computing Scheme of Work from Reception to Year 2, however the Junior School also use it. The scheme of work supports our teachers in delivering fun and engaging lessons which help to raise standards and allow all pupils to achieve their full potential. We are confident that the scheme of work more than adequately meets the national vision for Computing. It provides immense flexibility and strong cross-curricular links. Purple Mash can also be used at home to help support your child's use of technology.
2dos
On Purple Mash your child's class teacher or the Computing subject leader can set tasks for your child to do at home, these are called 2 dos. Under the current circumstances each year group has been set a range of tasks to continue their learning at home.
Current Purple Mash 2dos
Touch typing practise - different touch typing will be set each week.
Coding - Coding the fish, we haven't currently covered coding yet in school, so you child may need some help to get them started, however there is a tutorial video. A different coding task will be set each week.
Links (for all year groups)
Websites:
https://www.j2e.com/jit5#turtle
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z3tbwmn/articles/zqnc4wx
Apps:
Daisy the Dinosaur
BeeBot
BlueBot
Practical Activities:
Crazy Characters
In this activity you are learning about algorithms and debugging (A link for a poster can be found below that explains all of the vocabulary). You need to ask you child to draw a picture of a character, it could be anything, for example an alien. Once they have drawn the alien, they can't show you, they need to keep it to themselves. After this they need to describe how to draw it to you (this is the algorithm), you need to follow their instructions directly and cannot ask them any questions. If your drawing doesn't look like theirs you need to talk to them about why it didn't go very well (debugging the algorithm). Make sure you use the technical vocabulary when talking about it.
Lesson idea from Barefoot https://www.barefootcomputing.org/resources/crazy-character-algorithms
One place to another
This activity is about algorithms and debugging (A link for a poster can be found below that explains all of the vocabulary). Your child needs to stand in one area of the room or garden and you need to stand in another. Your child needs to give you directions of how to get from your location to them. Their instructions are the algorithm, if it goes wrong and they say the wrong directions you then need to talk about where it went wrong (the debugging). You can then swap over. They could also do this with toys, how to get from one toy to another.
Poster from https://www.barefootcomputing.org/docs/default-source/october-2019-resource-downloads/computational-thinking-children-poster_english.pdf?sfvrsn=4eb991ea_2
Technology at home
Make a poster of the different types of technology around your house and what it is used for. Talk to your children about what you use technology for.
Check back next week for more activities!
E-Safety
As a school we take E-Safety very seriously, but of course E-Safety continues whenever your child is accessing the internet.
Net-Aware is a useful website run by the NSPCC and O2 that reviews all of the current apps, games and social networks that children are using. It gives you a break down of what children are using it for and then experts have reviewed the website and analysed any risks. https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/
Below I have attached a document called 'Parenting in a Digital World' which contains tips and advice on E-Safety.