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Variables

Sixth graders learn variables — named boxes that store values a program can remember and update, like a score or a name. They check the ideas, then use variables in a small program.

Grade 6Variables50 minutes1 class periodCSTA / ISTEExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define a variable.
  • ✓Store a value.
  • ✓Update it.
  • ✓Use variables in code.
Essential Question

How does a program remember information, like your score?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Check It · Interactive

Variables

Project each one and have students answer about variables.

📦 Understand variablesTry it
Answer each question about variables.
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Remember This

5 min

How does a game keep track of your score as it changes?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pose the question.
  • Share ideas.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Variables

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Variables.
  • Note a named box.
  • Note store & update.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Use It

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Create a variable.
  • Give it a value.
  • Update the value.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Create.
  • Set.
  • Update.
4

Create — Create

15 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Write a program with a score.
  • Change it with +.
  • Show the result.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Write.
  • Change.
  • Show.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is a variable?
  • What does it let a program do?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and the ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
2-AP-11

Create and use variables.

CSTA
2-AP-12

Use variables with control structures.

CSTA
2-AP-17

Test programs that use variables.

ISTE
5c

Reason about stored data.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Variable = box visual.
  • Frame: "a variable stores a ___."
  • Use real examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Create one variable.
  • Use a template.
  • Use a visual.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Use several variables.
  • Swap two variables.
  • Use a variable in a loop.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 📦Variable cards
  • 💻Variables
  • 💻Code editor
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

variablea named box for a valuevaluewhat a variable holdsassigngive a variable a valueupdatechange a valuenamewhat you call a variablenumbera numeric valuestringa text valuestorekeep for later
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a variable?
A named box that stores a value.
QUESTION 2
If score = 0 then score = score + 10, what is score?
10.
QUESTION 3
Why are variables useful?
They let a program remember and update information.

Reflect: variables.

Have students write a program that stores and updates a score. A printable variables sheet is in the CS library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 VariablesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 VariablesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ VariablesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: assign, name, number, store, string, update, value, variable
  1. keep for later
  2. change a value
  3. what you call a variable
  4. what a variable holds
  5. a numeric value
  6. give a variable a value
  7. a text value
  8. a named box for a value

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a variable?
  2. If score = 0 then score = score + 10, what is score?
  3. Why are variables useful?
Answer key — Part A: 1) store · 2) update · 3) name · 4) value · 5) number · 6) assign · 7) string · 8) variable
Part B: 1) A named box that stores a value. 2) 10. 3) They let a program remember and update information.