Computer Science Discoveries

CS Discoveries was written using both the K-12 Framework for Computer Science and the 2017 CSTA standards as guidance. Currently, every lesson in CS Discoveries contains mappings to the relevant 2017 CSTA standards. A summary of standards mappings can be found here. A Google Sheets version of the standards can be found at CSD Standards.

Our Professional Learning Program offers year-round support. The program kicks off with a five-day summer workshop where you'll have an opportunity to work hands-on with the curriculum and meet other teachers from your area. Throughout the year, we offer follow up workshops and forum support. You don't need any prior computer science experience to get started. And teachers love it! 90% rank it the best professional development ever. Click here to apply and learn more.

Have questions about professional development? Provide your contact information to a Regional Partner in your area.

Teachers who have a restricted schedule, unable to teach all units of CS Discoveries over the course of a school year, can now easily assign a specific set of CS Discoveries units based on what they want to focus on. These collections are still the same exact units found in CS Discoveries, simply grouped together based on our recommendations below to dive deep in a specific area of CS Discoveries. Each collection is approximately one semester or slightly less than one semester. Click here to see our Collections options.

For teachers who have an even more restricted schedule, they have the ability to assign just one unit at a time from CS Discoveries without assigning the entire course. We hope this helps support classrooms that teach units of CS Discoveries embedded as part of larger courses or when teaching computer science on a limited schedule. Click here to see our flexible units.

One potential cost to consider when teaching this course is printing. Many lessons have handouts that are designed to guide students through activities. While it is not required that all of these handouts be printed, many were designed to be printed and we highly recommend printing when possible.

Beyond printing, some lessons call for typical classroom supplies and manipulatives such as: Student journals, poster paper, markers/colored pencils, scissors, scrap paper, glue or tape, post-it notes or index cards (or similar sized scrap paper), and rulers or a straight edge of some kind.

In addition to those general course materials, the following items are called for in specific units:

Problem Solving and Computing

• Aluminum foil, container for water, pennies (note that pennies can be replaced with some other kind of weight of the same size). Alternate activities are available if you do not have access to these supplies.

Creating Apps with Devices (Option A and Option B)

• Option A: Classroom set of Circuit Playgrounds. Check out code.org/maker/circuitplayground for more details.
• Option B: Classroom set of micro:bit devices. Check out code.org/maker/microbit for more details.
• Maker supplies, such as empty tissue boxes or cardboard rolls or scratch paper

*Note: The Creating Apps with Devices unit has two implementation options - one for those using circuit playgrounds and one for those using micro:bit. Teachers should not buy both sets of devices or teach both unit options as they are equivalent and cover the same content.

With an approved teacher account, you can find answer keys in a blue "Teacher Only" panel that shows in the online lessons and activities.

Teachers in our Professional Learning Program will automatically be approved to view answer keys. If you need an approved teacher account, you can apply for access to protected teacher-only materials (answer keys, etc) through this form. Please keep in mind that it may take 3-5 business days to verify your account.

CS Discoveries is designed to fit naturally between our CS Fundamentals courses and our CS Principles course. While each of these courses is designed to be an age-appropriate entry point to computer science, students with previous experience will find many new topics to explore, and they will revisit familiar topics in novel and more challenging contexts.