Activity

How to Code a Sandcastle

Grades 3-5

Subjects: Computational Thinking, English Language Arts, Personal Wellness

Overview

Using kinetic sand and the picture book, How to Code a Sandcastle, learners will be planning, creating, and decorating a sandcastle in a series of building challenges. Using step-by-step instructions, critical thinking and digital literacy skills, students will gain an experience of what being a computer programmer is really like!

NB Curricular Connections

English Language Arts

Strand: Interactions – Big Idea: Exchanges – Skill Descriptor: Give and follow directions and instructions.

Personal Wellness

Strand: Career Connected Learning – Big Idea: Experiencing Potential Career Pathways – Skill Descriptor: Engage in frequent and ongoing career connected experiential learning to learn about preferred career pathways and develop personal competencies.

What You’ll Need

Book – How to Code a Sandcastle (by: Josh Funk) *available on Sora
How to Code a Sandcastle Student Printables (How to Code a Sandcastle Student Guide)
Pencils
Kinetic Sand (enough for small groups)
2-3 bananas
Plastic tablecloth (blue for ocean)
Small, plastic cups (for sand pails)
Toothpicks
Mini seashells (optional)
LIVE Session recording

Instructions

HOW DO YOU EAT A BANANA? CHALLENGE: The first challenge for students to think about is “How Do You Eat A Banana?” Have students grab a partner and discuss the steps it would take to explain to someone else (who may never have eaten a banana before) how that process is done. Discuss: “How many steps did you come up with? Did you include everything needed to eat one?” Have a few learners share their sequence of steps and use a real banana, following along with their steps, to see if they have all the specific details needed to be successful in eating a banana. View 8:11 – 14:38 of the LIVE Session recording. Allow students to listen in on how simple and complex these steps could be and that these steps are called – ALGORITHMS in the digital world.

SMALL PROBLEM #1: FIND A PLACE TO BUILD: Gather together. ONLY read up to Small Problem #1 in the book, How to Code a Sandcastle (until pg.8). Watch the LIVE Session recording from 16:01 – 17:34. Next, using the plastic tablecloth, set up the “beach” (tablecloth) in your classroom and have students find a place in the shallows that they feel would be a great place to build their sandcastle. Using the printable, Small Problem #1: Find A Place to Build, from their current desk/table spots, have learners write out their directions, step-by-step, from their current location to their perfect sandcastle building spot. Allow some learners to share their algorithms and test them out! Discuss: How many steps did everyone use? Why are our number of steps not the same?

SMALL PROBLEM #2: GATHER UP SAND: Return to the read aloud and ONLY read page 9 (Small Problem #2: Gather Up Sand). Pass out kinetic sand and small plastic cups (sand pails) to each learner or small group. Whether using portions of sand or one huge pile, re-read the 3 instructions and have students follow each step (once) with their materials. Then, say, “STOP! Is that enough sand for your sandcastle? What would we do on a computer if we wanted the keep these actions repeating?” Watch 21:08 – 27:08 of the LIVE Session Recording to learn more about LOOPS. Have students continue filling up their buckets into a large pile. Discuss: How many pails did it take? Why are our answers not the same?

SMALL PROBLEM #3: SHAPE AND DECORATE THE CASTLE: Return to the read aloud and ONLY read pages 15-20 (Small Problem #3: Shape and decorate the castle). Pass out remaining materials – toothpicks, seashells, extra decorations, etc. for learners to use. View from 30:15 – 32:45 of the LIVE session recording for further instructions with solving this small problem. Students will also use the printable, Small Problem #2: Shape and Decorate Your Sandcastle to write out their algorithms. Take the time to SHOW and SHARE – take a walk at the beach (around the classroom) and celebrate the creativity and sandcastle designs.

NEXT STEPS & CAREER CONNECTIONS: Read the remaining pages of the read aloud. Take a few minutes and reviewing today’s learning activity and have students share about their experiences and discuss: What did I learn about coding today that I never knew before? Were there any challenges that I faced and how did I overcome them? Do I use algorithms in my daily life and what are they? What was my favorite part of this activity and why? Is there more to code than I thought? If students loved this activity, watch 34:55 – 39:57 of the LIVE Session Recording for future career paths connected with coding – Programmer and UX Designer.

Extension Ideas

– Invite learners to swap their Sandcastle Algorithms to see if they can create it with the steps given. Allow groups to provide feedback and give time for changes needed.

– Invite another class to use the created Sandcastle Algorithms to see if they can re-create the Sandcastles. Gather together to share the experience.