Computing

This week in Computing Year 5 and Year 6 have been learning all about the different parts that make up a computer, including the Motherboard, Processor, Hard Drive, RAM, Graphics Card, Heatsink and the Power Supply Unit.  We learnt how all of these parts are useless by themselves, but when they are all connected up together they can make a fully working computer.

“It was really fun, learning how the motherboard had all these bits where you can plug everything in.  It was really interesting because I was surprised how heavy it was compared to how big it was.” – Alex, Year 6

As well as having a chance to investigate these components, the children were also given the opportunity to hold and draw the objects in order to get a greater understanding of them.

“It was great, because we got to know what was inside a computer.” – Holly, Year 6

Next week each of the groups will have the opportunity to assemble these components with Paul to hopefully build their own working computers.  It’ll be a very exciting project for sure, so check back for more photos on the Penpol Times soon!

“It was quite good because we know how it works now.  I just thought that a computer was one little piece inside a screen but actually it’s a whole network of really weird pieces.” – Eva, Year 6

Penpol School have been taking part in the international Hour Of Code this week.  The idea behind the Hour of Code is simple, to get every child around the world spending an hour learning a little bit about computer science and programming.  This year there are over 514 million children taking part in the Hour, from all around the world.

 
Countries where the Hour of Code is taking place this year

The challenge the children have been undertaking this year has been designed by the team behind Minecraft and is called Hero’s Journey.  On this challenge you have to write your own code to control the robotic ‘Agent’ who can then help your character complete the twelve levels.  You can try it yourself at home here.

Everyone in Key Stage 2 took part in the challenge with some children even going the extra mile to collect the hard-to-reach diamonds on each level.

It was really good fun!  I didn’t know that I could control my character Steve. – George, C14

The Hour of Code follows on nicely from the lessons the children are currently having in Computing where they are learning how a computer works and how we, as users, can write simple instructions to control the computers.  The children are really getting stuck into this logical way of thinking and really deserved their Minecraft inspired treat this week!

Well done Key Stage 2!

You can find out more about the Hour of Code here.

This week the Year 5s and 6s and begun to learn how to write and code their own websites using the programming languages HTML and CSS.

We started out by looking at how a HTML page is structured using <> and </> tags and how we can then change the style of these through a CSS file.  Learning two new languages is certainly challenging, but as always our superstar pupils lived up to our expectations and have made great progress already.  In the first lesson the children made a simple website with information about themselves followed by an interactive birthday/Christmas card.  Some of these Christmas cards have even been entered into a Code Club competition!

Autumn and Freya with their Christmas Card Website  

If you’d like to create another website using this Trinket template at home you can use this link to get to the Code Club project page.

Poppy with her Christmas Card Website

After this, some classes are moving onto creating their own ‘comic-strip’ style website with different <div> frames, <p> and <img> tags and correct CSS styling to create their own joke or short story.  The children were given free reign to create any joke or short story they felt like with the images provided, so long as their webpage was coded correctly.  As you can see, some of their stories are certainly interesting!

The children have been using a website called Trinket to create their code and view their website in real time.  We can even share and embed Trinket websites on the Penpol Times!

“Jimmy the Dinosaur” by Will

“Knock Knock Cheese” by Jake

It doesn’t make any sense but at least it’s about Bob – Jake, Y6

“Dr Who?”

Over the next few weeks the Year 5’s and 6’s will continue to learn about the basics of Web Development and discover how they can display information in creative and engaging ways.  At the rate these classes are learning it wouldn’t surprise me if we have quite a few future web developers in our midst!

This half term Year 1 have been learning the basics of coding by giving instructions to the popular ‘Angry Birds’ characters.  In order to help these birds reach their target (the green piggies!) the children have to give them the correct directional instructions to move along the level.  These instructions start off quite simply, but before long the children are giving twelve step answers to get the bird to the target.

“I love how happy the bird is when he gets to the pig!” – Penny, Class 3

An example level from halfway through the Angry Birds puzzles

Using perseverance, logical thinking and imagination the Year 1’s have shown a huge amount of Learning to Learn skills and have proven that just because something is difficult at first they don’t need to give up.  Practice makes perfect and solving these puzzles has helped instil a real love of learning in a lot of these children.