🎯Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6

Teacher Resources

For Teachers!

Lesson Overview

This lesson introduces the concept of processing within computational problem-solving. While this
lesson focuses on four common types of processing - if/then (conditionals), finding a match
(searching), counting, and comparing - students should understand that processing is whatever a
computer does to turn inputs into outputs. Students are first introduced to the types of processing
through several sample apps. They then investigate more apps to determine what sorts of
processing each uses. They then think of their own app and decide what types of processing it would
need to work. Finally, they brainstorm other types of processing that may be useful but were not
included in the main lesson.

More guidance and resources for this lesson are available in the Lesson Plan:

●https://studio.code.org/s/csd1-2023/lessons/6

Problem Solving and Computing

Lesson 6

Processing

1. How do you know?

2. What do they think about?

3. Where do they get the information to think about this stuff?

​

Are computers thinking?

Open Ended

Are computers thinking?

1. How do you know?

2. What do they think about?

3. Where do they get the information to think about this stuff?

Prompt:

Go on Code Studio to try out the birthday app. It has three possible outputs. Try to find each one.

1. What is the input to the app?
2. What is the output?
3. How do you think the app decides which output to give to the user?

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Warm Up

Multiple Select

What is the inputs to the app?

• Month of your Birthday

• Day of your Birth

• Favorite color

• Shoe size

• Favorite candy

Multiple Select

1. What is the output?

• It's not your birthday year yet.

• It was already your birthday this year.

• It's your birthday!

• Tomorrow is good for you.

• Your birthday is coming soon!

Open Ended

How do you think the app decides which output to give to the user? What is it doing?

Key Vocabulary:

Processing - the thinking work computers do to turn input into output.

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Warm Up

Question of the Day

What are the different ways computers can process information?

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Warm Up

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Activity

National Park Quiz

Try out this quiz about America's national parks.

How does this app use comparing and if/then to turn the input into output?

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Activity

How Many Countries...

This app tells you some fun facts different countries.

What new kinds of processing

might it use to turn input to output?

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Activity

Four Kinds of Processing

● If/Then - If something is true, do something else.

● Comparing - Check whether things are the same, or one is bigger than the other.

● Finding a Match - Search a list or group of things for a match.

● Counting - Keep track of how many of something there are.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

- Check whether things are the ​

Select answer

, or one is ​

Select answer

than the

Select answer

.

Dropdown

● If/​

Select answer

- If something is ​

Select answer

, do something ​

Select answer

.

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Activity

App and Processing

For each app, choose one type of processing it uses and explain how it is used.

Open Ended

App and Processing

For each app, choose one type of processing it uses and explain how it is used.

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Activity

More Processing

For each app, choose two types of processing it uses and explain how they are used.

Match

MATCH THE PROCESSING FOR EACH APP

COUNTING

FINDING A MATCH

COMPARING

COUNTING

MATCHING

COMPARING

IF/THEN

COUNTING

COMPARING

• COUNTING

  FINDING A MATCH

  COMPARING

• COUNTING

  MATCHING

  COMPARING

  IF/THEN

• COUNTING

  COMPARING

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Wrap Up

Prompt:

We saw four different types of processing today, but there are many more?

● What’s another type of processing that you think would be useful?

● What kind of app might use it?

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Wrap Up

Key Vocabulary:

Processing - the thinking work computers do to
turn input into output

Problem Solving and Computing Lesson 6 - Wrap Up

Question of the Day

What are the different ways computers can process information?

Open Ended

What are the different ways computers can process information?