Connecticut Computer Science: 8th Grade
- Level Middle School
- Contact Hours 60
- Timeframe Semester
This course teaches students the basics of programming in Python. Students learn Python commands, functions, control structures, and user interaction by solving puzzles and writing creative programs for Tracy the turtle to follow.
To view the entire syllabus, click here or click to explore the full course.
MODULES - 10
Students learn about the world Tracy lives in and how to write commands that she will understand. They also look at a history of programming languages and some of the different characteristics programming languages can have.
Students build on the commands they have learned to instruct Tracy around all parts of her world and use for loops to make their code more efficient.
Students explore useful ways to break down large problems to write readable and successful programs.
Students review all they have learned so far by completing a project where they will use Tracy to design a mural.
Students learn about data types and how variables can be used in their Tracy programs. They also begin to learn how to manipulate strings in their programs, and learn how to add user interaction to their programs through user input and mouse click events.
Students apply the concepts they have learned so far by completing a project where they will use Tracy to depict a common cycle.
Students learn how to use if/else statements and while loops to instruct Tracy to make decisions based on conditions. They also learn how to return values from functions.
Students put together all of the concepts they have learned to solve advanced Tracy puzzles and complete a final quiz.
Students have a chance to apply all the skills and concepts they've learned in this course by completing a project where they will use Tracy to create a calculator that can be used to complete simple mathematical expressions.
Explore programs that your students will build throughout this course!
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The basics of programming in Python: commands, functions, control structures and user interaction, learned by solving puzzles and writing creative programs for Tracy the Turtle.
Python throughout. It is the only one of the three Connecticut courses that concentrates on a single language.
The 6th and 7th grade Connecticut courses. This one assumes students have met programming and moves into Python properly.
8th grade. CodeHS places it at 8th in the Connecticut Middle School Computer Science pathway.
About 60 contact hours. It is the only one of the three marked as a semester course rather than a quarter.
