Engaging 27 Year 2's in a Digital Technologies Lesson
Engaging a classroom full of eager Year 2 students in a Digital Technologies lesson might seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategies and a bit of creativity, it can become a rewarding experience for both you and your ākonga (students).
Here are some practical tips to help you navigate this journey, ensuring that every child is actively involved, learning, and most importantly, having fun.
1. Start Unplugged!
Why Begin Without Devices?
Starting your lesson unplugged has two significant benefits:
Accessibility: It removes the challenges of not having enough hardware or devices for each student. This is especially important for younger children, who may struggle with patience and turn-taking. By using simple, everyday materials like chalk, tape, and paper, you can engage every child without the need for high-tech gadgets.
Building Foundations: Unplugged activities allow you to unpack and explore foundational concepts of computational thinking. These activities can be as simple as drawing a grid on the floor and having students navigate it like a maze, helping them understand the basics of algorithms without touching a screen.
2. Group Collaborative Challenges
Scaffold Their Learning
Before diving into individual or small group activities, consider starting with a group challenge. For example, have the class sit in a porowhita (circle) and collectively navigate a BeeBot through a simple challenge on the mat.
This approach:
Ensures every student understands how to use the Beebot’s buttons and functions.
Provides a shared language for coding concepts.
Demonstrates algorithmic thinking and debugging in a low-pressure environment.
This kind of scaffolding is crucial, as it allows students to see the logic behind each step before they try it on their own.
Check out this Navigating Matariki resource from the Digital Pīkau, perfect for collaborative coding.
3. Bring in the Play!
From Consumers to Creators The ultimate goal of digital technologies education is to transform students from mere users of technology into creators and innovators. Play is the perfect medium for this transformation:
Foster Creativity: Encourage students to use digital tools to create something new—a game, a story, or even a simple animation.
Support Innovation: Through play, students can experiment with different ideas, learn from mistakes, and discover new ways of solving problems.
Try this Bulldozer Bots activity for a perfect mix of creativity, play and learning.
4. Improvise and Adapt
Go With the Flow
Not everything will go according to plan—and that’s okay! Be prepared to follow the students’ lead if they come up with new ideas or if the lesson takes an unexpected turn.
This flexibility:
Encourages student ownership of their learning.
Promotes creativity and critical thinking.
Keeps the learning experience dynamic and fun.
5. Interweave Storytelling
Algorithmic Adventures in Literacy
Many beloved children’s stories, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar or The Gingerbread Man, follow repetitive patterns or sequences—just like an algorithm. Use these stories as a springboard for exploring basic coding concepts:
Story-Based Algorithms: After reading, challenge students to map out the story using directional coding—what would happen if the Caterpillar made a different choice?
Integrating Literacy and DT: This approach not only deepens their understanding of both subjects but also makes learning more meaningful and engaging.
Discover more with CS Unplugged Kidbots, perfect for blending storytelling and coding in your classroom.
In The End It’s All A Journey
Teaching digital technologies to young learners is not just about preparing them for the future— it's about making learning today exciting, accessible, and relevant. By starting unplugged, working together, playing creatively, adapting as you go, and blending DT with storytelling, you’re setting the stage for a classroom where every student can thrive.
Let’s make digital learning a journey of discovery for our ākonga!
