SC.4.PE.3.1

Describe how computational thinking can be used to solve real-world issues in science and engineering.
General Information
Subject Area: Computer Science (Starting 2025-2026)
Grade: 4
Strand: Programming and Software Engineering
Date Adopted or Revised: 07/24
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5002034: Grade 4 Foundations of Computer Science (Specifically in versions: 2025 and beyond (current))
5002040: Grades 3-5 Unplugged Computer Science (Specifically in versions: 2025 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

How Generative AI like ChatGPT Works:

Students will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how generative AI models use Large Language Models (LLMs) and Natural Language Processing NLP to generate outputs. This grades 4-5 lesson is an integrated Computer Science, ELA and Math lesson designed for application of math and ELA content knowledge while exploring and using computational thinking to understand how generative AI works, making cross-curricular connections to understand emerging technologies.

Type: Lesson Plan

Using Machine Learning and Computational Thinking to Train an AI Model:

Students will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use computational thinking and Machine Learning (ML) to pretrain a model to recognize and identify objects, including geometric shapes and aircraft. They will used unplugged activities to mimic sorting and classification of the objects using their prior knowledge and then make connections to human learning and Machine Learning. Students will then problem solve and propose solutions using computational thinking to improve the ML model to better recognize the objects. This lesson is an integrated Computer Science, Science and Math lesson designed for students in grades 3-5 to apply math and science content knowledge while exploring and using computational thinking as they think like Computer Engineers and reflect on potential career paths.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Build a Car with Computational Thinking: Part 1:

Use computational thinking strategies to build a wind powered car using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. This is part 1 of a 2 part series on computational thinking.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Test a Car with Computational Thinking: Part 2:

Use computational thinking strategies to test a wind powered car using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. This is part 2 of a 2 part series on computational thinking.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Computer Science Original Student Tutorials

Build a Car with Computational Thinking: Part 1:

Use computational thinking strategies to build a wind powered car using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. This is part 1 of a 2 part series on computational thinking.

Test a Car with Computational Thinking: Part 2:

Use computational thinking strategies to test a wind powered car using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. This is part 2 of a 2 part series on computational thinking.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorials

Build a Car with Computational Thinking: Part 1:

Use computational thinking strategies to build a wind powered car using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. This is part 1 of a 2 part series on computational thinking.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Test a Car with Computational Thinking: Part 2:

Use computational thinking strategies to test a wind powered car using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. This is part 2 of a 2 part series on computational thinking.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.