Course Details

Note: A course's programming language includes the [PP] flag to designate Proprietary Platform. This means that code written in this course would not run elsewhere without significant modifications or installations.

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Google: CS First

CS First is an easy-to-use computer science curriculum designed for students in grades 4-8 (ages 9-14) that is free of charge. Teachers use the video content to teach students coding basics with Scratch for CS First, a special version of the Scratch coding editor inside the CS First website. Note that Google CS First also includes single-day lessons. Here, we are referencing the multi-day lessons.

Suggested for 4th – 8th Grade

< 60 hours

Free to use

Platform

Scratch & Google Classroom (Optional)

Programming Language

Scratch

Device Compatibility

Computers (Windows, MacOS, Linux), or Chromebooks (Tablets and Mobile Devices NOT Recommended)

Auto-Grading Availability

None

Date Modified

Created in 2015; actively updated

Funding Information

Created and maintained by Google.

Lesson Structure

Starter Project, Example Projects, Brief Agenda Overview, Discussion Questions

Course Sequencing

Note: Unit selection/order can be customized

0. Welcome unit (4 Lessons)

1. Introductory unit (2 available)

Storytelling (sequencing, randomness, loops, modularity, conditionals, broadcasting) (8 Lessons)

Music & Sound (loops, conditionals, variables, procedures) (8 Lessons)

2. Intermediate unit (3 available)

Friends (conditionals, loops, sequencing, procedures, variables, parallelism) (8 Lessons)

Fashion & Design (loops, events, conditionals, variables, objects, procedures, broadcasting) (8 Lessons)

Art (loops, events, variables, conditionals) (8 Lessons)

3. Advanced unit (2 available)

Sports (events, conditionals, sensing, variables, loops, broadcasting) (8 Lessons)

Game Design (events, conditionals, booleans, randomness, variables, broadcasting) (8 Lessons)

Course "Lens"

Students are introduced to programming concepts as they complete individual Scratch projects in 8-lesson units. Units each have a central theme, like storytelling, music, or sports.

Standards Alignment

Provides alignment to CSTA CS Standards and ISTE.

Structure

1 welcome unit and 7 other units available. Each unit contains 8, 1-hour lessons. The curriculum offers 1 introductory unit, 2 beginner units, 3 intermediate units, and 2 advanced units. Units at the same level cover roughly the same concepts.

Training Available

Google outsources PD to 3 virtual and 4 in-person providers. Logistics are all handled differently at their discretion.

Spotlight

Spotlight:

Differentiation

The Google CS First curriculum is intended for use in informal learning settings, though it can certainly be used in classroom settings. CS First offers multiple pathways at each level - for instance, the two introductory-level multi-day units cover similar topics through different lenses: storytelling and music. In a classroom setting, students could be allowed to choose which pathway to pursue (either as a class vote or by choosing a pathway for themselves)

What makes it great:

Offering students multiple pathways to learn concepts and demonstrate their understanding allows students to develop their unique strengths and preferences while fostering a deeper and more personalized learning experience

Expert Take

Google CS First Multi-day units offer detailed lesson plans and comprehensive scripts, making it an appropriate resource for novice teachers or those less confident in teaching programming. The curriculum caters to students have no programming background, and the curriculum provides a solid resource base. In each lesson, students are provided with video directions to follow as they complete the programming project. The video directions guide the student by displaying required code. With this approach, students could simply copy the code into their Scratch environment. There are several suggestions for workarounds if the classroom has a shortage of computers or earphones or has Internet connection issues. Pair-programming is encouraged throughout. The curriculum stands out for its accessibility and ease of use, enabling educators to deliver or provide engaging coding lessons effectively and provide a foundation for student learning. However, the programming concepts covered in each lesson are not always easily identified. This curriculum is best suited for those having little or no programming background.