The goal of the UW CATAPULT project is to introduce middle-school children to Computational Thinking and Programming Languages.

In Fall 2008, we will begin leading the first after-school CATAPULT club at Shorewood Elementary. The first semester, we will target a small group of 4th and 5th grade students (approximately 10); in the second semester, we plan to repeat the club with a larger group (approximately 20). The Shorewood club will meet one day a week for an hour, for a total of 10 weeks each semester.

In more detail, the content of each club meeting will be two-fold. First, CATAPULT will use material from Computer Science the Computer Science Unplugged project to teach computational thnking in a highly interactive manner without using a computer. The purpose of most of these activities is to help kids understand how to decompose problems and to develop algorithms. The ACM K-12 Task Force Curriculum Committee recommends many of these activities in its model curriculum. We have been tangentially involved with the Unplugged project for the past two years; specifically, we have developed a "Parent's Edition" of the material that allows a parent with no CS background to lead their child through the exercises.

Second, CATAPULT will teach children how to program with Scratch, a visual programming language developed at MIT for this age group. We have developed a series of eight short lessons that teach a middle-schooler the basics of programming by creating interactive games. Prototypes of these lessons are available. CATAPULT will revolve around these lessons and enable the kids to create games of their own.

Interested in helping? We are currently looking for student voluteers (either undergrads or graduate students) who would like to help with the Shorewood after-school club. Contact one of the faculty members if you are interested!

Faculty

• Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau
• Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau

Undergraduate Research Scholars

• Dan Hawk : Explored Scratch and developed prototype lessons
• Arizona Jaramillo and Tu Anh Lam Vo : Explored and evaluated Alice; tested prototype Scratch lessons

Previous Activities

• Assisted with the Girls' 2007 Imaginary Worlds Camp at Calvin College. This two week camp, run by Professor Joel Adams, teaches middle school students how to create computer-generated movies with Alice.
  The local Grand Rapids Fox 17 News visited and provided coverage: Flash and Quicktime

  

Materials

• Preliminary version of the Parent's Edition of Computer Science Unplugged. We are making the pdf of this edition available: Text, Handouts, Solution. Be sure to print the handouts single sided. If you have any feedback about this edition, please do not hesitate to let us know!

  What is Computer Science Unplugged?

  Computers are everywhere. We all need to learn how to use them, and many of us use them every day. But how do they work? How do they think? And how can people make them go faster and better? Computer Science is a fascinating subject that explores these very questions. The easy and fun activities in this book, designed for children of a range of ages, introduce you to some of the building blocks of how work computerswithout the children using a computer at all!

  Many of the activities are mathematically based, e.g. exploring binary numbers, mapping and graphs, patterns and sorting problems, and cryptography. Others link in well with the technology curriculum, and the knowledge and understanding of how computers work. The children are actively involved in communication, problem solving, creativity, and thinking skills in a meaningful context.

  What is the Parents' Edition of Unplugged?

  The parent's edition varies from other editions of CS Unplugged in a number of ways.

  • Each activity is completely scripted. Even if you know nothing about computer science or computers, you will be able to guide your child through these activities. Much of the text in previous editions What its all has been incorporated into the script of each activity.
  • The activities are structured around just you, the parent, and your child. The activities that previous required multiple children to participate have been redesigned so that all can be done with just two people.
  • Each activity requires a minimal amount of preparation and materials. Whenever you have the time, the activities are ready for you. In some cases, you do need to cut out cards from the handouts, but that is it. If you have a balance scale and weights, the sorting activity is a lot more fun; but this activity can be performed without special equipment
  • Each activity is structured to require about 15 -20 minutes. Some of the original longer activities have been divided into smaller units.
  • All solutions are provided at the end of the book. Older children can feel free to read along with the parent without any worry that they will see some of the answers to the questions. Each question in the activity is clearly marked with a letter that corresponds to the answer in the solutions.
  • The activities are targetted to children between about ages 6 and 9, or grades 1-3. Many of the activities now include more introductory material with easier examples, in addition to the final activities.