Lesson Plan
Lesson 1.1: Getting Started
Overview
This lesson is a preface and introduction to the course that includes background
information on the AP CS A course and exam. A Java Integrated Development
Environment (IDE) should be selected and set up for use in the course and
students should complete the pretest as well as the brief demographic survey.
Note: If you wish to provide a URL/link for students to access this lesson, you
can replace “yourCustomCourseName” in the customized link below with the
name of your custom course that you created. However, Runestone will
automatically direct students who are logged in to your custom course from the
CSAwesome link. For instructions on how to set up a custom course, please see
https://www.csawesome.org/runestone-e-book.
Customized Link to Share:
https://runestone.academy/ns/books/published/csawesome/Unit1-Getting-
Started/topic-1-1-getting-started.html will redirect to your custom course link
below if students are logged in:
https://runestone.academy/ns/books/published/yourCustomCourseName/Unit1-
Getting-Started/topic-1-1-getting-started.html
Student Learning Objectives
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
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Lesson Plan
Lesson 1.1: Getting Started
Materials and Resources
● Presentation system (LCD projector/Interactive whiteboard)
● 1.1 Getting Started in the CSAwesome E-book
Learning Activities
Estimated Length: 90 mins
Day 1:
● Hook/Motivation (5 mins):
○ Have students take turns sharing something about their previous
experience with Computer Science and programming, if any. This could
be the course(s) they have taken, programming language(s) they have
learned or a favorite project they remember working on. Keep track of
student answers on the whiteboard.
○ When students have finished sharing, point out any commonalities among
the answers (e.g. block-based vs text-based languages). Point out that
students with prior CS and programming experience have all used a
programming environment to do the coding. In this course they will learn
Java and use a designated IDE.
● Experiences and Explorations (40 mins):
○ Direct Instruction:
■ Provide the definition and examples of IDEs
■ Inform students of which IDE they will be using in the course.
Select from this list ahead of time.
○ Guided Practice:
■ Show students how to access the CS Awesome Runestone course
site. Have them follow along as you show them how to create an
account and join the course.
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Lesson Plan
Lesson 1.1: Getting Started
○ Independent Practice:
■ Ask students to independently complete the pretest in Unit 1 on
the CSAwesome Runestone site. This should take the remaining
class time. Reassure them that you do not expect them to know any
of the answers at this point. If they have no idea on the answer, it is
okay to skip questions or to make their best guess. They will take
the same test at the end of the class (unit 11), and the goal is to see
how much they improve.
■ To see their scores, you need to make an assignment and grade it.
See slides 13-15 and video. In the Assignments tab, you should
create a new assignment and in the Problems section of the
assignment, check off the pretest problems in Unit 1 and save.
Don't make it visible to students since you're just using it to get
their grades. Then, in the grading tab, select the assignment, and
click on autograde. Then in the Admin tab, click on Gradebook and
you will see their grades and can drill down clicking on each grade
if you want
Day 2:
● Hook/Motivation (5 mins):
○ Ask students to login and complete the survey in the CSAwesome e-book.
○ Get students who were absent the previous day caught up with an account
and the pre-test.
● Experiences and Explorations (35 mins):
○ Direct Instruction:
■ Inform students that by taking this course they will be prepared to
take the AP CS A Exam. Describe the format of the exam in 1.1.2
About CS A.
■ Watch the video on Growth Mindset in 1.1.5 and discuss the
strategies under it.
○ If you have time, ask students to complete the Growth Mindset Quiz
https://www.mindsetworks.com/assess/
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Lesson Plan
Lesson 1.1: Getting Started
○ Discuss as a class what the “results” mean and how to apply this to the
class, including debugging and problem solving strategies they can use
when programming.
○ Also have students watch this Pair Programming video
● Rethink, Reflect, and/or Revise (5 mins):
○ Exit ticket: Ask students to independently reflect on how they feel about
learning Java and preparing for the AP exam. Ask them to include what
they believe you can do to assist them during the course that will help
them succeed.
Check for Understanding
● Interactive Exercises: None
● Coding Exercises: None
● Common Misconceptions:
○ Block coding is not real programming. Not true-- there are two basic types
of programming languages: Blocks-based (e.g. Scratch, App Inventor, etc)
and Text-based (e.g. python, Java, C++, etc).
Differentiation: More Practice
<<Provide activities and resources for students who need more practice with the
material as well as those who finish early and would like to extend their
learning>>
Differentiation: Enrichment
<<More assignments or challenge problems that students can try>>
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Lesson Plan
Lesson 1.1: Getting Started
Background Knowledge
The AP CS A exam is administered by the College Board. For more information
visit AP Central.
Teaching Tips
● CSP → CS A Tips
○ Some students may be joining the class who have previously taken the AP
Computer Science Principles course. You can point out that those
students can use the Transitioning from AP CSP to AP CS A page as a
reference throughout the course.
● For general CS Teaching tips, review the CS Teaching Tips Sheets.
Teacher Professional Development Reflection
After reviewing this lesson in the professional development, complete the form found
here to provide feedback on the lesson, materials provided, etc.
Attributions
<<List here in APA >>
