Toolkit for K-5 Computer Science

Maryland Computer Science Standards

K-12 Standards--Links to the MD K-12 Standards (by grade band or by sub-concept) 
K-5 Annotations--Web portal for the MD ES CS standards with clarifications about what they mean, skills required, and example lessons to address them. Use this resource to deepen your understanding of the standards.
K-5 Skills Progressions (draft)--A work in progress providing information about the sequencing of CS skills. Use this resource to determine pre-requisite skills and to see the relationships among different CS standards. 

Graphic: Fundamental concepts of Computer Science Standards

Curricular Resources

ECSNet Lesson Repository- A database with elementary computer science lessons.  Some are curated from existing curricula and others are written by MD teachers. You can search the database by standard. Use this resource once you have the bulk of your curriculum designed and you need particular lessons to fill gaps.

Existing Curricula (Bundles): We call lessons grouped together with a scope and sequence a Bundle, This report reviews existing curricula, bundles, (Code.org, Scratch Encore, etc.). The list of bundles in not comprehensive.  Use this resource if you are selecting your base curriculum and/or looking to mash-up your curriculum with additional curricula.

MD Local School System Units at a Glance--Model CS units from a few school systems in Maryland.

Recommended Elementary Tools and Resources--Resources used in elementary computer science and computational thinking from across Maryland. 

CS Unit Evaluation Tool -This tool is designed so school systems can evaluate the computer science units of study they are adopting or creating. This previous version of the curricular rubric is filled out for select units in a subset of existing curricula (Code.org, Computers as Another Language, and Tynker). 

School Library Media and Computer Science- These lessons, developed and refined by Maryland School Library Media Specialists, integrate computer science and school library media. 

And more...

Physical Computing, Robots and more - This page provides information about robots and more used in CS classrooms in Maryland. Most listings include example lesson plans. 

 MD ES CS Ambassadors recommended resources --Resources aligned with Cohort 5 of the Maryland elementary computer science Ambassadors Onboarding

Computational Thinking and Reading Comprehension - Examples of lesson progressions to teach reading comprehension Strategies that Work, computational thinking skills, and integration of both.

CS Pedagogy Knowledge Base - Locally written articles regarding pedagogy for teaching CS.

You are already doing this! (courtesy of Gilbert Public Schools, Gilbert, AZ) - Computer Science can be part of activities you already are doing.  These documents provide examples of how to tweak your instructional activities to use CS vocabulary and elevate this language, teaching CS in what you already do.

Hands-On AI Projects for the Classroom - Scroll to the bottom of the webpage to download guides created from a partnership between ISTE and General Motors to help teachers embed artificial intelligence into instruction.

The Big Book of Computer Pedagogy -Brief articles by the Raspberry Pi organization regarding pedagogies the can be used to teach computer science.

The Big Book of Computing Content - Brief articles by the Raspberry Pi organization to build teachers background knowledge about computer science concepts.

CSTA Teacher Standards - The Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) is a national organization of computer science teachers. The standards provide a framework for developing professional development opportunities.

Professional Development

Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE) Professional Development - MCCE professional development workshops available now for elementary school computer science.

CSTA Professional Development Guidance -A compilation of resources for professional development providers. This includes a rubric to evaluate professional development with respect to the CSTA Teacher Standards

Systemic Implementation

Strategic CSforALL Resource & Implementation Planning Tool (SCRIPT)--A framework to guide teams from Local School Systems to effectively plan for computer science education for all students. 

National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) - K-12 teacher and student resources include recruitment, cultural change, and evaluation tools.

Code.org  Advocacy Coalition  - Resources to increase CS in K-12 schools including how to take action and policy recommendations.