Learning objective
Unplugged Coding
Unplugged Coding & Kinesthetic Logic
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Developing computational thinking, algorithms, sequencing, logic, and error handling through tactile, offline, and kinesthetic activities without electronic screens.
Physical Sequences
Follow and give clear directional commands to navigate a 'human robot' through a floor grid obstacle course.
Let's Go!
Learn
Computers need exact physical or written commands. A 'human robot' must follow only the arrow cards placed on the floor grid: Forward (1 step), Turn Left (90 degrees), Turn Right (90 degrees), and Stop.
Try it yourself
Human Robot Grid Navigation
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🖨️ CS Unplugged printables
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Requires physical prompts to choose the correct arrow direction.
Developing
Arranges arrow cards in order but needs help correcting orientation errors.
Secure (Goal)
Creates a complete step-by-step physical command sequence to guide a partner through a 3x3 grid.
Mastery
Designs complex grid paths with obstacle detours and tests execution without verbal communication.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Physical Sequences includes:
- Core Deliverable: Human Robot Grid Navigation
- Target Quality: Creates a complete step-by-step physical command sequence to guide a partner through a 3x3 grid.
- Excellence & Polish: Designs complex grid paths with obstacle detours and tests execution without verbal communication.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See Think Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Requires physical prompts to choose the correct arrow direction.
- Developing: Arranges arrow cards in order but needs help correcting orientation errors.
- Secure: Creates a complete step-by-step physical command sequence to guide a partner through a 3x3 grid.
- Mastering: Designs complex grid paths with obstacle detours and tests execution without verbal communication.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: AP.01.B.1.1
Outcome: AP.01.B.1.1 — Follow and give clear directional commands to navigate a 'human robot' through a floor grid obstacle course.
PYP: Form · Structured rules and clear commands guide physical movement and logical sequences.
Learner profile: Inquirer
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 2: Physical Loops
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Physical Loops
Compress repetitive physical movements into repeat loop cards (e.g., 'Repeat 4x [Step Forward]').
Learning objective
To identify repeated action patterns in physical routines and represent them using loop multiplier cards.
Let's Go!
Learn
Instead of laying down 8 separate Forward cards, we use a Loop Card! A Loop Card tells the robot: 'Repeat the enclosed action N times'. This makes our unplugged code cleaner and easier to read.
Try it yourself
Fitness Loop Coding
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🖨️ CS Unplugged printables
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identifies repeating dance or movement patterns with teacher guidance.
Developing
Replaces repeated arrow cards with loop cards but occasionally miscounts repetitions.
Secure (Goal)
Accurately uses loop cards (Repeat Nx) to streamline long physical command sequences.
Mastery
Explains how physical loops save time and prevent card clutter in long algorithmic paths.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Physical Loops includes:
- Core Deliverable: Fitness Loop Coding
- Target Quality: Accurately uses loop cards (Repeat Nx) to streamline long physical command sequences.
- Excellence & Polish: Explains how physical loops save time and prevent card clutter in long algorithmic paths.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Zoom In
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identifies repeating dance or movement patterns with teacher guidance.
- Developing: Replaces repeated arrow cards with loop cards but occasionally miscounts repetitions.
- Secure: Accurately uses loop cards (Repeat Nx) to streamline long physical command sequences.
- Mastering: Explains how physical loops save time and prevent card clutter in long algorithmic paths.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: AP.01.B.1.1
Outcome: AP.01.B.1.1 — Compress repetitive physical movements into repeat loop cards (e.g., 'Repeat 4x [Step Forward]').
PYP: Function · Pattern recognition allows us to simplify complex actions into efficient loops.
Learner profile: Communicator
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 3: Offline Conditionals
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Offline Conditionals
Execute conditional IF-THEN-ELSE decision logic using physical playing cards or classroom rules.
Learning objective
To play a physical card game that executes different actions based on IF (condition) THEN (action) ELSE (action) rules.
Let's Go!
Learn
Conditionals allow algorithms to make decisions! An IF statement checks a condition: IF (Red Card drawn) THEN (Touch your toes) ELSE (Clap your hands). Only one branch is executed based on whether the condition is TRUE or FALSE.
Try it yourself
Card Game Conditionals
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🖨️ CS Unplugged printables
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Follows single IF-THEN physical rules when prompted by the teacher.
Developing
Executes IF-THEN-ELSE card conditions but needs support with nested or dual conditions.
Secure (Goal)
Constructs and plays custom physical card games using accurate IF-THEN-ELSE logical branches.
Mastery
Evaluates real-world conditional scenarios (e.g. weather clothing) and drafts multi-branch offline decision trees.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Offline Conditionals includes:
- Core Deliverable: Card Game Conditionals
- Target Quality: Constructs and plays custom physical card games using accurate IF-THEN-ELSE logical branches.
- Excellence & Polish: Evaluates real-world conditional scenarios (e.g. weather clothing) and drafts multi-branch offline decision trees.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See Think Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Follows single IF-THEN physical rules when prompted by the teacher.
- Developing: Executes IF-THEN-ELSE card conditions but needs support with nested or dual conditions.
- Secure: Constructs and plays custom physical card games using accurate IF-THEN-ELSE logical branches.
- Mastering: Evaluates real-world conditional scenarios (e.g. weather clothing) and drafts multi-branch offline decision trees.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: AP.02.B.1.1
Outcome: AP.02.B.1.1 — Execute conditional IF-THEN-ELSE decision logic using physical playing cards or classroom rules.
PYP: Connection · Logical conditions allow algorithms to react dynamically to changing environments.
Learner profile: Thinker
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 4: Sorting Networks
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Sorting Networks
Demonstrate parallel processing and data comparison by walking through a physical chalk sorting network.
Learning objective
To physically walk through a ground-drawn sorting network to sort a list of numbers from smallest to largest.
Let's Go!
Learn
A Sorting Network is a physical graph painted on the ground. Unsorted numbers (students) enter at one end. When two students meet at a comparison square, they compare numbers: the SMALLER number follows the left path, and the LARGER number follows the right path. At the end, everyone emerges perfectly sorted!
Try it yourself
Chalk Sorting Network Challenge
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🖨️ CS Unplugged printables
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Walks through the sorting network nodes with step-by-step guidance.
Developing
Compares two numbers at comparison nodes but needs help knowing which path leads to the smaller number.
Secure (Goal)
Successfully navigates a 6-number chalk sorting network, making accurate comparison decisions at every node.
Mastery
Explains how parallel comparisons in sorting networks speed up sorting compared to linear comparison.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Sorting Networks includes:
- Core Deliverable: Chalk Sorting Network Challenge
- Target Quality: Successfully navigates a 6-number chalk sorting network, making accurate comparison decisions at every node.
- Excellence & Polish: Explains how parallel comparisons in sorting networks speed up sorting compared to linear comparison.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See Think Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Walks through the sorting network nodes with step-by-step guidance.
- Developing: Compares two numbers at comparison nodes but needs help knowing which path leads to the smaller number.
- Secure: Successfully navigates a 6-number chalk sorting network, making accurate comparison decisions at every node.
- Mastering: Explains how parallel comparisons in sorting networks speed up sorting compared to linear comparison.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: AP.02.B.1.1
Outcome: AP.02.B.1.1 — Demonstrate parallel processing and data comparison by walking through a physical chalk sorting network.
PYP: Change · Structured algorithms organize unordered data efficiently through systematically applied comparisons.
Learner profile: Principled
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 5: Parity Magic Trick
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Parity Magic Trick
Detect and correct corrupted data bits using a 5x5 card grid with parity bit rows and columns.
Learning objective
To perform the 'Parity Magic Trick' by setting up parity check rows/columns and identifying a flipped card.
Let's Go!
Learn
Computers send data in binary bits (0s and 1s). To prevent errors, computers add a Parity Bit to each row and column so the count of 1s is always EVEN. If a bit flips during transmission, the row AND column count become ODD — pointing directly to the broken bit!
Try it yourself
Parity Card Magic Trick
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🖨️ CS Unplugged printables
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Flips a grid card when instructed but relies on teacher assistance to spot parity count errors.
Developing
Counts odd and even black cards in rows but struggles to locate the exact row/column intersection.
Secure (Goal)
Adds parity cards to make every row and column have an EVEN number of black cards, effortlessly spotting flipped cards.
Mastery
Explains how computers use parity bits and checksums in real Wi-Fi networks to detect corrupted data downloads.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Parity Magic Trick includes:
- Core Deliverable: Parity Card Magic Trick
- Target Quality: Adds parity cards to make every row and column have an EVEN number of black cards, effortlessly spotting flipped cards.
- Excellence & Polish: Explains how computers use parity bits and checksums in real Wi-Fi networks to detect corrupted data downloads.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See Think Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Flips a grid card when instructed but relies on teacher assistance to spot parity count errors.
- Developing: Counts odd and even black cards in rows but struggles to locate the exact row/column intersection.
- Secure: Adds parity cards to make every row and column have an EVEN number of black cards, effortlessly spotting flipped cards.
- Mastering: Explains how computers use parity bits and checksums in real Wi-Fi networks to detect corrupted data downloads.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: AP.03.B.1.1
Outcome: AP.03.B.1.1 — Detect and correct corrupted data bits using a 5x5 card grid with parity bit rows and columns.
PYP: Perspective · Data parity bits provide a mathematical framework to detect transmission errors.
Learner profile: Knowledgeable
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 6: Physical Ciphers
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Physical Ciphers
Encrypt and decrypt offline paper messages using Caesar cipher wheels, Pigpen symbols, and symmetric keys.
Learning objective
To construct paper Caesar Cipher wheels, shift plaintext characters by a secret key (+N), and decode secret messages.
Let's Go!
Learn
Cryptography protects data! A Caesar Cipher shifts every letter in a message by a fixed number key (+3: A -> D, B -> E). The original message is Plaintext, the encrypted message is Ciphertext, and the shift value is the Key.
Try it yourself
Secret Agent Cipher Challenge
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🖨️ CS Unplugged printables
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Decodes single letters using a pre-set cipher key sheet.
Developing
Encrypts words using a Caesar wheel (+3 shift) but makes occasional shift count calculation errors.
Secure (Goal)
Flawlessly encrypts and decrypts secret class messages using paper Caesar wheels and Pigpen cipher grids.
Mastery
Critiques cipher security, demonstrating how frequency analysis can crack simple substitution ciphers.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Physical Ciphers includes:
- Core Deliverable: Secret Agent Cipher Challenge
- Target Quality: Flawlessly encrypts and decrypts secret class messages using paper Caesar wheels and Pigpen cipher grids.
- Excellence & Polish: Critiques cipher security, demonstrating how frequency analysis can crack simple substitution ciphers.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See Think Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Decodes single letters using a pre-set cipher key sheet.
- Developing: Encrypts words using a Caesar wheel (+3 shift) but makes occasional shift count calculation errors.
- Secure: Flawlessly encrypts and decrypts secret class messages using paper Caesar wheels and Pigpen cipher grids.
- Mastering: Critiques cipher security, demonstrating how frequency analysis can crack simple substitution ciphers.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: AP.03.B.1.1
Outcome: AP.03.B.1.1 — Encrypt and decrypt offline paper messages using Caesar cipher wheels, Pigpen symbols, and symmetric keys.
PYP: Reflection · Encryption algorithms protect private information by transforming readable data into secure ciphertext.
Learner profile: Reflective
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow