Computer Science

Computer Science — Grade 6

American Curriculum · Ages 11-12

Sixth grade computer science establishes the middle school foundation. Students program in a text-based language, most often Python, working with variables, data types, input and output, conditionals and loops, and design solutions with flowcharts or pseudocode before coding.

Systems content covers hardware, storage, binary representation of numbers and text, and how networks and the internet function. Digital citizenship becomes substantive: privacy, digital footprint, and the ethics of using other people's data and content.

Key topics covered

• Computational ThinkingDecomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition and algorithm design.
• Programming in PythonVariables, data types, input and output, conditionals and loops.
• AlgorithmsFlowcharts and pseudocode used to plan before coding.
• Computer HardwareProcessor, memory, storage, and input and output devices.
• Data RepresentationBinary numbers, character encoding and how images are stored.
• Networks & Digital EthicsHow the internet works, plus privacy, footprint and content ethics.