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Lesson 2: Preparing the Machines
The lesson begins by anchoring in number sense concepts, using number relationships, place value reasoning, and fraction understanding. Students make sense of mathematical concepts by determining how they might sort numbers, images, expressions, or quantities. Students are given a task to sort and order icing quantities so the factory machines can be restocked quickly. The task constraints allow students to authentically engage in various computer science sort algorithms. As students sort the icing amounts, they must record the sequence to demonstrate their sort. Students also compare numbers and use number relationships to make sense of the sort. Once the cards have been sorted, students create a class line plot with the data collected from the sort. The lesson concludes with a short video and discussion showcasing the different sort algorithms. Students can visualize how these sort algorithms show different levels of complexity and efficiency, while analyzing the processes they took when sorting the icing cards. |
