This 7-lesson curriculum introduces middle-school students to Starlogo TNG and basic computer programming skills using game design as a motivator and theme. By the end of the third lesson, students will have built a basic version of a first-player, 3-D treasure hunt game. As students learn more programming instructions (called "blocks") and brainstorm gameplay uses for them, they will customize the game according to their creativity and programming ability.

The unit is designed for a teacher to use in an in-school computer class or after school computer club. The instructional materials include (first five lessons currently available for download):

• Teacher Guide
• PowerPoint slide presentations for each lesson
• Student Handouts: Programming Activities for each lesson (in TG), Spaceland Navigation guide, Starlogo-TNG Blocks Reference guide
• Project files for programming activities

Please contact me with any questions, suggestions, or comments.

Sample lesson description and screenshots:

In lesson 1, students are introduced to four movement blocks (forward, back, left and right). They use these blocks to program instructions for 20 turtle agents so to maximize the score, which is based on the height of the patches that the turtles are standing on. The challenge is to figure out how best to keep the turtles on high scoring patches and away from low scoring patches.

A screenshot of the PowerPoint slide presentations:

Screenshot of student handout of programming activities for lesson 1:

Contact Info:
Wendy Huang
(617) 324-2601

Back to top