Identify, select, and apply hardware, software
Students figure out which devices and programs fit the job at hand, then work through basic fixes when something stops working.
What does a student learn in
This is the stretch when students stop just using computers and start building with them. They write simple programs that follow steps in order, repeat actions, and make choices, then test the program and fix what does not work. Students also learn how the internet moves information between devices and why a strong password matters. By spring, they can plan a small project on paper, build it on a computer, and explain what each part does.
- Coding basics
- Algorithms
- Debugging
- Internet safety
- Data and patterns
- Digital citizenship
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 5.
Concepts
Concepts
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 3-5
Explain how computer networks and the Internet enable communication…
Students learn how computers connect to each other through networks and the internet to send messages, share files, and keep information private while it travels.
- Grades 3-5
Collect, transform, and represent data
Students gather information, organize it into charts or graphs, and use what they see to back up a conclusion. They look for patterns in the data that help explain or answer a question.
- Grades 3-5
Design, develop, and analyze algorithms and programs to solve problems…
Students write step-by-step instructions a computer can follow to solve a problem or automate a repeated task. They test and refine those instructions until the program does what they intended.
- Grades 3-5
Investigate the social, ethical, legal
Students look at how computers and apps affect everyday life, asking questions like who benefits, who might be left out, and whether a technology is fair or safe to use.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Identify, select, and apply hardware, software Grades 3-5 | Students figure out which devices and programs fit the job at hand, then work through basic fixes when something stops working. | MD-CSDF.C1.3-5 |
| Explain how computer networks and the Internet enable communication… Grades 3-5 | Students learn how computers connect to each other through networks and the internet to send messages, share files, and keep information private while it travels. | MD-CSDF.C2.3-5 |
| Collect, transform, and represent data Grades 3-5 | Students gather information, organize it into charts or graphs, and use what they see to back up a conclusion. They look for patterns in the data that help explain or answer a question. | MD-CSDF.C3.3-5 |
| Design, develop, and analyze algorithms and programs to solve problems… Grades 3-5 | Students write step-by-step instructions a computer can follow to solve a problem or automate a repeated task. They test and refine those instructions until the program does what they intended. | MD-CSDF.C4.3-5 |
| Investigate the social, ethical, legal Grades 3-5 | Students look at how computers and apps affect everyday life, asking questions like who benefits, who might be left out, and whether a technology is fair or safe to use. | MD-CSDF.C5.3-5 |
Practices
Practices
- Grades 3-5
Foster an inclusive computing culture that values diverse perspectives and…
Students learn to include everyone when working on tech projects, listening to classmates with different backgrounds and ideas. The goal is to build habits of collaboration that make computing work better for more people.
- Grades 3-5
Collaborate around computing — divide work, share ideas
Students work with classmates to build a program or digital project, splitting up tasks and combining everyone's ideas into one finished product.
- Grades 3-5
Identify and define problems that can be solved with computation and decompose…
Students look at a big problem, decide whether a computer could help solve it, and then break it into smaller pieces that are easier to tackle one at a time.
- Grades 3-5
Use abstractions to simplify complexity, generalise solutions
Students find patterns in a problem and use those patterns to build a simpler solution that works in more than one situation. Think of it as making a recipe that solves a whole category of problems, not just one.
- Grades 3-5
Create computational artifacts — programs, simulations, models — by applying…
Students write programs or build digital projects by planning, testing, and revising their work in repeated cycles until it does what they want.
- Grades 3-5
Systematically test computational artifacts and refine them based on evidence…
Students run their program or app, look for what breaks or confuses users, and fix it. Testing and fixing is part of the work, not a sign something went wrong.
- Grades 3-5
Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary, visualizations
Students explain how a program or app works, using the right words and visuals to back up their thinking. They describe what a piece of technology does and how it affects people.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Foster an inclusive computing culture that values diverse perspectives and… Grades 3-5 | Students learn to include everyone when working on tech projects, listening to classmates with different backgrounds and ideas. The goal is to build habits of collaboration that make computing work better for more people. | MD-CSDF.P1.3-5 |
| Collaborate around computing — divide work, share ideas Grades 3-5 | Students work with classmates to build a program or digital project, splitting up tasks and combining everyone's ideas into one finished product. | MD-CSDF.P2.3-5 |
| Identify and define problems that can be solved with computation and decompose… Grades 3-5 | Students look at a big problem, decide whether a computer could help solve it, and then break it into smaller pieces that are easier to tackle one at a time. | MD-CSDF.P3.3-5 |
| Use abstractions to simplify complexity, generalise solutions Grades 3-5 | Students find patterns in a problem and use those patterns to build a simpler solution that works in more than one situation. Think of it as making a recipe that solves a whole category of problems, not just one. | MD-CSDF.P4.3-5 |
| Create computational artifacts — programs, simulations, models — by applying… Grades 3-5 | Students write programs or build digital projects by planning, testing, and revising their work in repeated cycles until it does what they want. | MD-CSDF.P5.3-5 |
| Systematically test computational artifacts and refine them based on evidence… Grades 3-5 | Students run their program or app, look for what breaks or confuses users, and fix it. Testing and fixing is part of the work, not a sign something went wrong. | MD-CSDF.P6.3-5 |
| Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary, visualizations Grades 3-5 | Students explain how a program or app works, using the right words and visuals to back up their thinking. They describe what a piece of technology does and how it affects people. | MD-CSDF.P7.3-5 |