Programming Unit Final Project - Holiday Coding Projects For Everyone!

This is your chance to turn your coding experience into a holiday project.  Follow the links below to the different activities today.  Enjoy!  - Mr. S

Dancing Yeti Project: Make the Yeti Dance, a digital animation project from Made with Code!


Holiday Emoji Project:  You’re about to design a custom holiday emoji that you can share digitally or IRL.

Holiday Card Project:  Codecademy is the easiest way to learn how to code. It's interactive, fun, and you can do it with your friends. Check out this tutorial that will help you create a Holiday Card Web Page. 

Twelve Days of Christmas Code:  Nice, simple implementation of the Twelve Days of Christmas. As jhixson puts it, “Pretty straightforward … in JS with a few ES6 bits.” Run it today, there are still a couple of days left! That is of course, assuming the twelfth day of Christmas is actually Christmas, which I believe is out of scope of this blog article.

Snowstorm Project:  A fancy, customizable JavaScript-driven snow effect which you can easily add to your homepage to eat up the user’s CPU! Also included, if you are feeling a bit Clark Griswoldy, is an experimental Christmas Lights script, which you can find at the top of the page.

Java Christmas Lights:  Great idea and execution, Anvaka! As noted on the README.md, “The tree is built of two spirals. These 11 lines of code render one line on spiral. It includes 3d projection and background shadow.”

Hannakuh CSS Menorah:  Here is a Menorah written entirely in CSS. Neat!

DO NOT GO TO SANTA TRACKER UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST TWO OF THE PROJECTS ABOVE!

SANTA TRACKER by  GOOGLE:  Leave it to Google to outdo everyone on the list. Enter stage north, the Santa Tracker. As Google puts it, the Santa Tracker is, “an educational and entertaining tradition for the December holiday period.” While this project appears quite jolly on the surface, Santa actually is currently involved in litigation with Google over this tracking system. Expert witness, Rudolph. Either way, enjoy!

Original Post by SourceToad.com at https://www.sourcetoad.com/code/5-holiday-code-ideas/

BONUS SITE:  Christmas Experiments

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CSEd Week (Post-Script) - More and More Code for Everyone! freeCodeCamp.com

We have already used many of the Blockley-Style Programming tutorials found on Code.Org.  Now, without creating an account, try some of the tutorials on other programming languages found on freeCodeCamp.com.  Here is some basic information (taken directly from their About Us page) to get you started.  Good Luck!

What is freeCodeCamp?

We’re a community that helps you learn to code, then get experience by contributing to open source projects used by nonprofits.

How can you help me learn to code?

You'll learn to code by completing coding challenges and building projects. You'll also earn verified certificates along the way. We also encourage you to join a study group in your city so you can code in-person with other people.

Is freeCodeCamp really free?

Yes. Every aspect of freeCodeCamp is 100% free.

Can freeCodeCamp help me get a job as a software developer?

Yes. Every year, thousands of people who join the freeCodeCamp community get their first software developer job.

How can I get a job?

Most people get jobs through friends and hiring managers they know from coding events. There are also services that can help you get interviews.

How long will it take me to finish each of freeCodeCamp's certificates?

Each certificate takes around 400 hours of dedicated learning. Some people may take longer. These certificates are completely self-paced, so take as long as you need.

Is freeCodeCamp a replacement for a 4-year degree?

No. Please don’t drop out of college just to pursue freeCodeCamp. You can pursue both concurrently. Even though you don’t need a 4-year degree to work as a software developer, it still helps a lot.

Should I complete all of the coding challenges in order?

We’ve put a lot of thought into how we introduce concepts. But you’re free to jump around.

Where can I get technical support for using the freeCodeCamp.org platform?

Here are answers to common technical support questions.

Click The Link Below To Start:
https://www.freecodecamp.org/challenges/learn-how-freecodecamp-works

You can also try www.W3Schools.com tutorials for many different programming languages.  There are also coding resources on hocphilly.strikingly.com

If you are super-advanced, and really want a challenge, 
TRY THESE LINKS:

The definitive JavaScript handbook for your next developer interview (14 minute read): https://fcc.im/2jwgTmL

Here are 450 free online programming and computer science courses you can start in December 
(browsable list): https://fcc.im/2A1x6Gs

Google Doc Link To Resources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BpCZpDOjez7kCgoCCihnfAWyhJ7ro8saaGWt-R07OLk/edit?usp=sharing

Bonus: Learn how to build an API using Node.js with this free in-depth YouTube tutorial (33 minute watch): 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsCjFHuMXj0

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Learning To Code (Week 2) - Computer Science Education Week

Information as of 12/1/17 at 10am

Here it is!  So close to the holiday season, and we are now in the middle of Computer Science Education Week.  Please visit csedweek.org, code.org, and hourofcode.com to find a wide array of projects for you to complete in class, and at home.  Make sure you are spending some time at home showing your parents (and other family members) how cool is is to learn how to be a programmer!

There is a wealth of information about careers, opportunities, and other ways to learn to code!  Use the information found at code.org/promote to help learn about what your states are doing to increase learning opportunities for students who want to learn about computer science.

Watch The Video Below To Get Started!

Once you have looked at some of the resources above, and we have discussed them as a class, you have a choice to work on the following items for credit this week:

Project 1:  Try the Celebrity Challenge:  Go to code.org/challenge and create an app, game, or design with Code.org and tag #HourOfCode and one of our special guests for a chance to win a video chat for your classroom!  SHARE a link to your project with Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

Project 2:  Go to the KANO, Anyone Can Make website and complete the Street Artist Hour of Code tutorial.  You must SHARE your project by creating an account, and emailing a link to your project to Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

Project 3:  Use your creativity and imagination to bring the Google logo to life using code. Make the letters dance, tell a story or create a game. With Scratch and CS First, anyone can become a designer and programmer for the day!  Go to the GOOGLE LOGO Link to get started.  You must take a screen shot (or video if necessary) of your Google Logo Design and email it to Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

Project 4:  Choose any other tutorial found on hourofcode.com, get a project pre-approved by Mr. S, and Share it for credit!  You can also use freecodecamp.org or w3schools.com, or any other online tutorial that you show Mr. S prior to starting.  Make sure your content is appropriate for school!  You get extra credit for sharing a new source, tutorial, or application I have not seen yet!

COOL NEW SPECIAL PROJECT:  MICRO-BIT Build a Virtual Pet using code!  

Click the link here https://groklearning.com/hoc/activity/virtual-pet/ and check it out!

Have a great week and ENJOY this time learning to code in our class!

- MR. S

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Learning To Code - Code.Org Accelerated Course MP2

Students will be introduced to the Code.Org K-12 Curriculum online. Students will use creativity, collaboration, communication, problem-solving and persistence to complete basic levels of BLOCKLEY-STYLE Programming. Students who complete the initial program will understand how to code in JavaScript!

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Technology Journal Entry: "Why Learn To Code?" Go To Technology Journal and answer the question: "Why should you learn to read and write computer code?" by Hadi Partovi (Co-Founder of Code.Org).

You must write at least 4-5 sentences about why you should learn to code, and what you could use this skill for in your future career.

Step 2: Why Is Learning To Code Important? (Click Here For Video) by Ali Partovi (Co-Founder of Code.Org)

Step 3: Sign Up For CODE.ORG and Join Our Class Online!

• SIGN INTO YOUR GOOGLE GMAIL ACCOUNT
• GO TO CODE.ORG AND CLICK "SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE+"
• GO TO CODE.ORG/JOIN AND USE CLASS CODE (See Mr. S)

Step 4: Work Independently On Your Individual Code.Org Program

Do Not Race Ahead! If you complete Hour Of Code, you may sign up for PlayLab, Frozen, or another tutorial on your Code.Org Code Studio site.

VIDEO: HOW DOES THE INTERNET WORK?

Each participant will be able to… (Excerpt From Code.Org Curriculum Site)

Participants will learn computer science skills such as critical thinking, logic, persistence and creativity in problem-solving by completing levels on Code.Org.

The course design and the instructor methods to accomplish this objective are…

Computer science and computational thinking skills will be addressed through hands-on "unplugged" and online activities, including computer programming and coding. Skills of a computer scientist through the computational thinking practices of creativity, collaboration, communication, persistence and problem solving will be emphasized. Computer science themes of algorithms, data, abstraction, computing practice and programming, computers and communication devices, and community, global and ethical impacts.

Participants will demonstrate they know and understand this objective by…

Participants will take part in "Unplugged" activities, reviewing vocabulary, and completing assessment levels online. Participants will receive feedback on their performance, as well as resources for improvement. Students will use Peer Mentoring whenever possible to help each other prior to asking for direct assistance from the teacher. 

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Students will learn basic computer programming using Code.Org online. Students will understand the basic vocabulary used in programming. Students will also be able to explain why it is important for everyone to learn to code and how it can provide equity in our society.

STUDENTS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING! 

Students will start by completing a Google Classroom Question:

Why Should Students Learn To Read And Write Computer Code?

Students will watch a short video and participate in a discussion about future careers and equity. Students will then play a game to introduce basic vocabulary and terms. Students will sign up for accounts on Code. Org and begin working through the program online. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TODAY!

Standards Covered In This Class 

PA 3.7.7 & 11 Section C / ISTE 2011

CSTA Tied With Common Core ELA/Math rev. 2011

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Create your own Google logo Google - Hour of Code Preview Assignment

Hour of code in your classroom. The Hour of Code is a global movement by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries through a one-hourintroduction to computer science and computer programming.

Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities. Our vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra. Code.org organizes the annual Hour of Code campaign which has engaged 10% of all students in the world and provides the leading curriculum for K-12 computer science in the largest school districts in the United States. Code.org is supported by generous donors including Microsoft, Facebook, the Infosys Foundation, Google, Omidyar Network, and many more.

What is a Google Doodle?  https://www.google.com/doodles

A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepage that is intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people. The first Google Doodle was in honor of the Burning Man Festival of 1998,[1][2] and was designed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin to notify users of their absence in case the servers crashed. Subsequent Google Doodles were designed by an outside contractor, until Page and Brin asked public relations officer Dennis Hwang to design a logo for Bastille Day in 2000. From that point onward, Doodles have been organized and published by a team of employees termed "Doodlers".[3]

Initially, Doodles were neither animated nor hyperlinked—they were simply images with hovertext describing the subject or expressing a holiday greeting. Doodles increased in both frequency and complexity by the beginning of the 2010s, and in January 2010 the first animated Doodle was posted honoring Sir Isaac Newton.[4] The first interactive Doodle appeared shortly thereafter celebrating Pac-Man,[5] and hyperlinks also began to be added to Doodles, usually linking to a search results page for the subject of the Doodle. By 2014, Google had published over 2,000 regional and international Doodles throughout its homepages,[6] often featuring guest artists, musicians and personalities.[7]

- EXCERPT TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM WIKIPEDIA AT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Doodle

Use your creativity and imagination to bring the Google logo to life using code. Make the letters dance, tell a story or create a game. With Scratch and CS First, anyone can become a designer and programmer for the day!  Use the link below to start making your own Google Doodle.  Email the ACTIVE Link to your Google Doodle (when it is complete) for credit to Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us)

Create A Google Doodle (SCRATCH) Site

Your Google Doodle must incorporate at least two (2) changes from the choices listed below the main video explanation of the project!  Good Luck!

- Mr. S

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Historical Figure Facebook Project - Assembly Day 17-18 S1 (Research & Synthesize Information)

Today we will be using the research you have done since last week, and the pictures you found online to ASSEMBLE our Historical Figure Facebook Pages. Please follow along in class as we "drag and size" pictures into our project. You will also be re-typing (or copy/paste) information into the various places on the document.

YOU MUST MAKE A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT THAT IS AT THE LINK BELOW.

RENAME YOUR DOCUMENT "HFFP (Person's Name) (Your Last Name) P?"

Example: HFFP JFKennedy Scribner P1

HISTORICAL FIGURE FACEBOOK PROJECT TEMPLATE LINK (CLICK HERE) 

MR. SCRIBNER'S SAMPLE "GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR."

You must SHARE the Google SLIDE (Presentation) with Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us)

Open the location of your Pictures and Start by Formatting and Inserting the Pictures today. Make sure to scale the pictures to the spaces appropriately, and make sure that they are appropriate. Imagine you are the Famous Person and that you are placing the pictures they might have taken throughout their life. Family, homes, friends, and events should all be there. Make sure that the pictures of Friends/Enemies are correctly formatted and placed in the proper size, style and format. TRY NOT TO ALTER THE BOX SIZES so the project will stay neat and orderly. 

Please read the following details for each page so you understand what I am looking for:

Main Page (Page 1)
1. Profile Picture should be the same for both pages of the project

2. Person's Name - Your Name should be same on all pages.

3. SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENT: You must base this page and all contents on a specific event from history. This event will give you a base time and date for making decisions about critical information.

3a. POSTS: All conversations / posts should have some historical significance. There should be a logical order to the posts and all information listed. You will have to "make up" some of the information based on your research. All of your "made up" information should have historical context and be as accurate as you can get from your research.

4. Basic Information should be as exact as possible. Please try to maintain the Facebook Effect if you do not have specific information. What would your best guess be. Make sure you can back up anything you put on the page with some historical fact or reasoning.

5. Friends / Enemies can be anyone from the same period of time in history. Anyone who lived during the same time could be a friend or comment on your Historical Figure's wall.

6. Make sure that the Historical Event information is copied on all pages where applicable.

Information Page (Page 2)

1. All Basic Information should be the same as the column on the left.

2. NETWORKS (GROUPS): You should create / make up historical groups that your Historical Figure might have been a part of. Some should be from the historical record if possible (College Alumni, Political Parties, other groups), but others can be created in context (George Washington might have been interested in the Virginia Farmers Guild). Be creative and have fun! Just be able to back up your group names with some logical reasoning.

3. Photo Album Preview: Use two pictures here that would represent picture albums associated with your Historical Figure. Try to think of albums that would exist for your person. Family, Friends, Places Visited, Etc.

4. PERSONAL INFORMATION: Based on your research, what was their address on the day of the Historical Event you based the page on.  You may use period items if they have something listed in the historical record, or you may INFER what your person might have liked from today. You may use some latitude for this, but be able to explain your answers.

5. Contact Information should be as accurate as possible and timely. Based on the day of the Historical Event that this page is focused around, what would the address and phone number be? You can make up specifics, but you must use correct area codes for phone numbers and zip codes / cities for addresses.

6. BRIEF DESCRIPTION: This section can be taken directly from an online source.You must add the link to your RESEARCH DOCUMENT A THE BOTTOM!  Make sure you find a description that is complete and as accurate as possible.

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE 
Students will learn the basic ways to complete internet-based research. Students will collect pictures for use in the online project. Students will focus on a famous historical figure and complete research about that person’s life, and a significant event during that time in history. 

STUDENTS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING! 

STUDENTS MUST START BY READING ALL DIRECTIONS ON CLASS WEBSITE! Students will use the resources in class to create a Facebook-Style page for a famous historical figure. The page created must center around a specific event from that person’s life, and research must be done to describe the person, event, and other people who would have been involved! Today you will focus on placing the pictures into your project page.  Make sure to open the Google Slides Template and MAKE A COPY.  Be sure to Rename it properly and SHARE it with Mr. S (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

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SPENT: A NEXTGEN Personal Finance Simulation Project (Middle School) CCS

If you do not finish all assigned tasks before the end of the class, you must complete them on your own time.  If you are finished early you may work on your Historical Figure Facebook Project Research Page.  If that is complete, you may work on makewav.es, khan academy, typing.com (lessons only), or work for another class.

The Inquiry below is intended to help introduce students to the decisions people have to make everyday when they are living paycheck to paycheck. The Supplemental Resources are provided only to support the Inquiry, but the Inquiry is a comprehensive lesson on its own.

In this Inquiry, students will use a simulator to roleplay an adult trying to make ends meet when they don’t have a surplus of finances. In the process, students will learn about how their decisions impact the people around them and their ability to pay for the necessities each month as well as the pressures and decisions that many people face in this situation. Through this Inquiry, they will learn to use wise spending and saving habits, empathize with those dealing with the living wage, and assess the options people have when they are having financial difficulties.

Make Sure You Click On The ROLEPLAY Inquiry Simulation Link Below, Click FILE and MAKE A COPY, and SHARE it with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit!

Inquiry Simulation:  ROLEPLAY: Spent Middle School Edition

Learning Objectives:

• Students will experience the circumstances of budgeting on the living wage.
• Students will reflect on the impact of the decisions they made in order to learn from them for the future.
• Students will explore the difficulties of living paycheck to paycheck and learn from the options they face as well as mistakes they make.
• Students SHOULD Play the Game a SECOND Time after recording their answers to more fully understand some of the alternate choices in the simulation.

ACTIVITY:

Complete The Google Document Worksheet As You Complete The Online Simulation. Please Answer All Questions In COMPLETE SENTENCES! Try to use the R.A.C.E Response Method (Repeat the question, Answer the question, Cite your evidence/examples, Explain your evidence/examples) Make sure you SHARE the Google Document with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

Standards:

Alignment to Anchor Standards for Reading: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words..

Alignment to Jump$tart Spending and Saving Standards: 1b: Analyze how spending and saving behavior can affect overall well-being. 1c: Discuss the components of a personal spending plan, including income, planned saving, and expenses.   Alignment to Jump$tart Risk Management and Insurance Standards: 1b: Predict the consequences of accepting risk with insufficient or no insurance. 1c: Illustrate how to use insurance to share the risk of financial loss.

Supplemental Resources:

*Note: These supplemental resources are a work in progress and will be finalized soon!

Video: Just In Case
This video from Cha-Ching is a fun way for students to explore why they should think about having an emergency fund or getting insurance in case issues they can’t plan for arise!
Suggested Follow Up Questions: 1) What are some examples of reasons you might need an emergency fund or insurance from the video? 2) Why do you think people say “plan for the worst” based on what you learned from the video?

Interactive: PlayInsure
This game allows students to learn about Auto Insurance and Homeowner's Insurance by letting them roleplay as an insured party  that encounters many different scenarios. This allows students to see the different plan options, why insurance costs a certain amount, and when it is useful. Since the game is created by the Texas Department of Insurance, it focuses on that state, but it is a great learning tool for students regardless of location.

• Teacher Tip: Both the Auto Insurance and Homeowner’s Insurance games are very long (30 days) so they are quite repetitive. You might want to tell the students to play for something like 10-15 days!

Video: Payday Loan Advertisement
This Payday loan advertisement tries to sell people payday loans. In the process, it outlines why payday loans exist and why someone living paycheck to paycheck might feel the need to use one. Students might not understand what the big issue with payday loans is given the tone of the video, so discussion afterwards will help them understand.
Suggested Follow Up Questions: 1) How are payday loans different from borrowing money for something like college or a house? 2) Why might someone be searching for a loan like this? 3) What are the 2 qualifications needed to get a payday loan? Why do you think the companies don’t require more info from the borrower? 4) What do you think are the downsides of taking out a payday loan?

Comprehension Questions: Spent Kahoot
This kahoot is a fun way to assess students on their understanding of the terms and concepts they learned in this lesson.

This project taken directly from https://www.ngpf.org/courses/middle-school/

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