Computer Science Module Overview

This computer science module can be taught independently but is intended to be taught after the YES Middle School Engineering Medicine Coolers unit. 

Students consider how to alert users that their medicine coolers have warmed to room temperature. Students learn how to write an algorithm so that a micro:bit can continuously monitor the temperature and then alert the user when the temperature has exceeded a certain value.

  • Recommended for use with Engineering Medicine Coolers, grades 6–8
  • Setting: In school
  • Computer science connections: Data and Analysis; Impacts of Computing
  • 2 lessons
  • 45 minutes per lesson
  • Student materials available in Spanish
  • Computational tools used: micro:bits, MakeCode (free and web-based)
  • Materials needed: Materials kits are not available for purchase for computer science modules

View all YES Computer Science modules.

Standards alignment

YES computer science modules align with state and national computer science standards. View Engineering Medicine Coolers and Medicine Cooler Alarms Alignment or all Standards Alignments.

Module Map

Students are introduced to the micro:bit as a computational tool for monitoring temperature. They create an algorithm for the micro:bit, selecting an input and output of their choice.

Teams use their experience of monitoring medicine cooler temperature manually to write an algorithm in pseudocode, then create the algorithm in MakeCode, and test it using the simulator.

Our funders

Major support for this project has been provided by MathWorks.

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What’s Included?

  • Teacher Guide (PDF)
  • Teacher Slides (Google Slides)
  • Print Materials (PDF)