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Suggestions for cheap programming curriculum?


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In my continuing search for ways to jazz up my son's math curriculum, I recently hit upon the idea of having him learn to do some programming. My husband immediately suggested LOGO and found a few places from which we can download the actual language for free.

 

The problem is that I really want some kind of guide, lesson plans, curriuclum to use. Otherwise, I suspect my son will muck around with it for a few weeks and then walk away.

 

I found a couple of things in the Rainbow Resources catalogue, but they require a specific package (MicroWorlds, which is based on LOGO), and the software costs $100. My husband ran into the same wall looking for things online: LOGO is out there to be downloaded, but all of the reasonably-priced curricula require a specific version that costs right around $100 to purchase.

 

We're still looking around, but I was hoping some of you brilliant folks here might be able to steer us toward something workable?

 

Thanks!

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Jenny,

I'm no help but just wanted to say that I found exactly what you did. I e-mailed the curriculum publisher for that program & she was helpful (Phyllis Wheeler, author of Pure and Simple). I am thinking of selling things we don't use in order to bite the bullet & purchase the set.

 

Would LOVE to hear if anyone has used it before!

Julie

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Personally, for 10 and up I'd go right to Python rather than using Logo as a stepping stone. I recently read in a maillist about this book (the poster's son was a tester), to be published in September, and there are good online resources. Here's a free e-book called Snake Wrangling for Kids. And another. Once a kid has a bit of experience, he can start doing something like pygame.

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I went ahead and bought Computer Science Pure and Simple with the software. My kids have had a great time with the software - they are really good at learning computer stuff on their own. I plan on using the curriculum with my ds as a "computer camp" for the 2 weeks that my dd is at dance camp. We will continue working on it throughout the year - I bought both books for it so we wouldn't get through it too quickly. I probably will skip the parts on word processing as my kids already have that down. I was a computer programmer before homeschooling and I like what I have seen of it so far.

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I went ahead and bought Computer Science Pure and Simple with the software. My kids have had a great time with the software - they are really good at learning computer stuff on their own. I plan on using the curriculum with my ds as a "computer camp" for the 2 weeks that my dd is at dance camp. We will continue working on it throughout the year - I bought both books for it so we wouldn't get through it too quickly. I probably will skip the parts on word processing as my kids already have that down. I was a computer programmer before homeschooling and I like what I have seen of it so far.

 

 

I'm looking at this in the RR catalog. My DS tells me he was "born to be a graphics/website designer". He is 12. He does not have any programming experience.

 

Is this curriculum a self-teaching program, or does it require mom to teach? How clear and straightforward it it? Does it teach things like website design, or just technical programming?

 

Any other info/opinion/review of Computer Science Pure and Simple would be much appreciated! I could probably manage to afford it, but would hate for it to be wasted money.

Michelle T

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I haven't had a chance to go through every lesson and really get a good feel for some of the projects. What I saw in some of the early lessons is clear defnititions and examples to help the student understand what programming is including terms such as procedure, input, and output. She also has them write comments in the program (like all good programmers should do...) and format it to make it easy to follow. The MicroWorlds software allows them to actually see what their program is doing and even add animations easily. My kids love to just play with the MicroWorlds.

 

As for what all is covered, the first book starts out with some basics including word processing with the word processor of your choice, simple Logo programming, spread sheets, internet basics, and even some web design. I plan on working through the web design parts myself. The second book has them actually programming some games like Madlibs, mazes, hangman, and something called city. It moves on to some more internet things and more spreadsheet skills.

 

I would say that it's pretty self-teaching. The first book is for grades 5 and up, the second is 7th and up. My going into 5th grader, who is very comfortable with computers, had no problems just picking up the book and figuring it out.

 

I think it's a good starting program. I bought the whole set - both books and the software, so it wasn't cheap. But, I have 2 kids who are interested in it and I thought it would be something fun and interesting to start over the summer to keep them productive at something.

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I don't know that this will help, but last year I dabbled in trying to find some sort of computer programming program so that my ds could create his own video games. (This is something he was/is asking to do. He's super creative & loves computers.) I didn't get too far in my research (and he was only 6yo, so I wasn't in a huge rush), but I did look around a bit. I'm going to re-investigate during this summer because I think it would be a fun & educational activity to have him work on a couple of times a week during our upcoming school year.

 

So, in case you are interested, here are some of the things I initially looked at:

 

SIMPLE

 

Alice

 

Stagecast

 

Game Maker (not programming, just creating games)

 

If anyone knows or has experience w/ any of these programs, I would love to hear comments! :001_smile:

 

Cool thread. I'll definitely be watching this one!

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Personally, for 10 and up I'd go right to Python rather than using Logo as a stepping stone.

 

Thanks for that additional idea. I had not run into that one yet! I will save this info.

 

 

What I saw in some of the early lessons is clear defnititions and examples to help the student understand what programming is including terms such as procedure, input, and output. She also has them write comments in the program (like all good programmers should do...) and format it to make it easy to follow.

 

Very helpful to me, thanks!

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