3rd Grade Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science
- Level Elementary School
- Number of Lessons 37
- Grade 3rd
This course is designed to provide digital literacy and computer science instruction for Massachusetts 3rd grade students.
See the full syllabus for all topics and activities, or explore the course to try it out.
UNITS - 11 (37 lessons)
Students review CodeHop basics and computational thinking concepts for those who need extra practice before starting 3rd grade content.
Students follow a story-driven expedition that introduces the CodeHop Blocks programming interface, sprites, and motion.
Students build on sequencing and events by adding costumes and backdrops, and get an introduction to design thinking.
Students use loops to repeat instructions, remix a classmate's code with proper attribution, and debug programs using decomposition.
Students use if/then blocks and apply conditionals to design and build a platform game.
Students use variables, lists, and functions to organize and reuse code in their programs.
Students explore how computing systems work, build keyboarding skills, and compare productivity software tools like slides and word processors.
Students learn about digital footprints, cybersecurity, cyberbullying, digital etiquette, and basic cryptography.
Students evaluate data for reliability and learn to search for and attribute information found online.
Students explore how technology and culture influence each other through history, innovators, and careers in computer science.
Students learn how AI systems are trained on data and how to write effective prompts for AI.
Explore a sample lesson from this course!
This course moves students into the CodeHop Blocks editor, covering sequences, loops, conditionals, variables, lists, and functions through story-driven and project-based lessons. Students also build computing systems and productivity software skills, explore digital safety topics like cybersecurity and digital footprints, evaluate data and online sources, learn about computing history and careers, and get an introduction to how AI is trained and prompted.
The course is aligned to the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) standards for grades 3-5, covering strands including Computational Thinking (CT), Computing Systems (CS), Digital Tools and Collaboration (DTC), and Community, Global, and Ethical Impacts (CAS). Lessons that meet specific standards are labeled accordingly in the syllabus.
No, there are no prerequisites. The course is designed to support all learners in 3rd grade, regardless of prior computer science experience, and includes an optional review unit for students who need extra practice with CodeHop basics.
The course includes 36 lessons, each approximately 45 minutes long, for a total of 36 hours. It provides a full year of instruction when taught once per week, with some lessons required to meet state computer science standards.
Students use CodeHop Blocks, a teacher-led, block-based programming environment with a consistent lesson structure (Introduction, Guided Practice, Independent Practice, Extension, and Reflection). Students write and run programs that are saved in their own accounts, and also work with common productivity tools like Google Slides, Google Docs, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word.
