Computer Science Education Week, also known as CSEdWeek, is an annual initiative that encourages students to learn computer science and see it as a viable career path. Started by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2009, schools around the country now recognize this event on the second week of December each year.

You can bring Computer Science Education Week activities into your classroom to help students get a better idea of how their tech works and decide if pursuing a career in a STEM field will be right for them.

• Put the “science” in Computer Science Education Week
• Explore complex topics in social studies for Computer Science Education Week.
• Debate the pros and cons of technology for Computer Science Education Week in ELA

[Put the “science” in Computer Science Education Week](id-sci)

Key Takeaways: 

• Create lessons on coding to introduce students to the way computers, apps, and software work.
• Incorporate a variety of voices into your Computer Science Education Week lessons to show students this field is for everyone.
• Dig into computer science careers in your lessons to show students the variety of options they have for their future.

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Students can explore what makes their devices, programs, apps, and games run with these engaging science activities:

Learn more about the code behind computers

Behind every website, app, or video game, there’s a code that makes it work. Students can learn more about what code is and how it makes our software work with articles on topics like:

• The math that makes computer code work.
• How more middle and high schools across the country are teaching computer science classes to prepare students for their futures.
• The STEM mentors who are inspiring girls to consider computer science as a career.

Discover ways students can learn to code

Are your students interested in learning how to code but aren’t sure where to start? Share articles about different places students can learn about coding, like

• Coding clubs at schools or local community organizations.
• Summer camps designed specifically to teach coding and critical thinking skills.
• At-home offline games that teach coding concepts like sequencing.

Teach students about binary code with a hands-on project

Before some of the more popular coding languages of today, computer programmers had binary code. Teach students the math and science behind strings of 0s and 1s with this hands-on keychain activity:

• First, ask students to read an article about the Amazon-funded program teaching students how to code.
• Next, have students read an article that explores place-value number systems and why we use them.
• Finally, use the binary alphabet to create necklaces or keychains that hold secret coded messages.

Remind students that computer science is for everyone

Anybody interested in computer science can give it a try! Help students explore how computer science is for everyone with articles on topics like:

• The results of tech and engineering test scores that have potentially surprising results.
• How colleges and universities worldwide are making their computer science majors and classes more inclusive.
• The way esports are helping to connect more students to science and technology through an activity they enjoy.

Discover computer science careers

There are so many careers available in computer science that your students may not even realize all of them exist! Introduce them to careers that may interest them, like:

• Software engineer
• App developer
• Roboticist

[Explore complex topics in social studies for Computer Science Education Week](id-ss)

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t a new technology, but it seems to be everywhere this school year! Dig deeper into this complex topic with articles that cover:

• How teen-created AI software can do things like ID skin conditions, spot risky driving behavior, and even spot elephant poaching in action.
• What teachers and students are saying about using ChatGPT and other AI tools in the classroom.
• The fastest-growing jobs and careers in computer science, and yes, they include AI.

Psst! Want to show students how AI can work in the classroom in real time? Use our AI-powered assistant Luna as your guide!

[Debate the pros and cons of technology for Computer Science Education Week in ELA](id-ela)

Key Takeaways: 

• Explore algorithms and how they affect the content we see online.
• Start conversations about responsible AI use.
• Discover the unexpected ways we use technology every day.

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Some of us love technology, while others prefer to go old-school. Which path will your students choose? Find out with these engaging ELA lessons:

Learn about the algorithms that run our apps

Why, when you view one post on social media, do you start to get suggestions for similar content? That’s an algorithm at work! Students can learn more about them and how they work with articles on topics like:

• What is an algorithm, and do they only appear in technology?
• How policy-makers are trying to regulate algorithms across different channels.
• How social media platforms, search engines, and other programs collect information that influences their algorithms. 

Dive deeper into AI

Is using AI good for us? Can it help us work smarter, not harder? Encourage students to think about these and other AI-related questions while engaging with resources like:

• A primer on what people really want to know about AI.
• An opinion article that explores whether computer scientists should factor ethics into their AI development.
• A video that explores different ways AI could revolutionize our world.

Explore the ways we use technology every day

Technology and computer science have become so embedded in our everyday lives that we may not even realize it. Get students thinking about the ways we use technology every day with articles on topics like:

• How virtual and augmented reality could transform the way fans and even athletes experience sports.
• “Sound beaming” technology that sends sounds directly to a listener without headphones.
• How smartphones could one day replace physical wallets—and what security concerns that could raise.

Newsela’s subject products go beyond Computer Science Education Week

You can capture student engagement and excitement for learning all year long with Newsela’s suite of subject products. The variety of content and resources—like news articles, primary sources, literature selections, and interactive videos—-helps you teach about any holiday, current event, or historical date throughout the year.

Not a Newsela customer yet? Sign up for Newsela Lite for free and start your 45-day trial. You’ll get access to our premium content and activities for everything you need to teach about Computer Science Education Week and beyond.