At Smithdown Primary, we believe the use of information and communication technology is an integral part of the National Curriculum, a key skill for everyday life and vital for a successful future for our children. Computers, tablets, programmable robots, digital and video cameras are a few of the tools that can be used to acquire, organise, store, manipulate, interpret, communicate and present information. In an evolving world where technology is at the heart, we aim to develop enthusiasm in computational thinking and confidence in using the latest technologies for a range of purposes.

We are fortunate to have MGL work alongside our teachers to deliver our KS2 curriculum; providing a range of challenging computing activities.

Due to the cohort of children at Smithdown, we intend to shape our Computing curriculum to the children’s skills at the time which will differ from year to year. Thus, our teachers have the ownership to explore skills that may not have been embedded prior to their own year group.

At Smithdown, it is paramount that children are confident users of technology, including the internet, whilst exploring it safely. As a school, we have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our children which includes online safety.

Please click on the links below to find out more about our curriculum:

 

Whole-school-Computing-Overview-2023-2024

National Curriculum for Computing

Progression in Computing

Please click here to see the coverage of skills and progression across all year groups in: Computer Science, Information Technology and digital literacy.

Online Safety

The Internet is an amazing place. Our pupils can play, create, learn and connect – the possibilities are endless. But there are also risks. Therefore we regularly discuss the importance of online safety with our pupils and they have all agreed to follow our acceptable use policy. Please click on the links below for copies of these documents.

Key stage 1 Acceptable Use Policy

Key stage 2 Acceptable Use Policy

 

Online Safety Newsletters Autumn 2023

Please click an image to access the news letter

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

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Computing Chatter

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Year 6- Google Sites

14-03-2024

In the last two computing sessions Year 6 have been getting themselves familiar with Google Sites. Children have explored how to add content blocks, edit text and embedding videos. Children have then created a website about a topic of their own choice.

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Safer Internet Day

08-02-2024

Year 6 are finding out about AI as part of their Safer Internet Day work.

How will AI change our lives?

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How has tech changed through time?

06-02-2024
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Year 3 Computing- Scratch

05-02-2024

This afternoon Year 3 have been using all the skills that have been developed over the past few weeks to create a pong game. Children needed to use repeat loops, If statements and motion blocks to create their game.

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Year 4 Pixel Mosaics

31-01-2024

This afternoon Year 4 have been converting a mosaic into a pixel-style image. Children had to work out how they could convert the different sections into a 14 x 14 grid to ensure their design stayed symmetrical, children designed it onto a piece of paper ready to create a digital version next week.

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Year 3 Scratch

29-01-2024

This afternoon we focused on being able to use the wait block when controlling Sprites. Children used this block to get two Sprites to tell a knock knock joke.

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Year 4 Pixel Art

24-01-2024

This afternoon Year 4 have continued to build on their understand of how Pixels are used. Children used a website to recreate an image in pixel form. Children created it on paper first and then used excel to start to recreate their image.

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Year 3 Scratch

22-01-2024

Year 3 have continued to explore Scratch. Yesterday we investigated how we can use the x and y axis to get a Sprite to move to a specific location on the screen. Children were able to plot their Sprite to move to a certain position and then change costume

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Mosques Around The World

18-01-2024

As part of our RE unit, we are finding out about mosques around the world and presenting our findings in Google Slides.

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Year 6 Python Coding

12-12-2023

Year 6 focused on using python coding to make a Christmas tree. As a class we created code for a triangle to be drawn, focusing on the importance of our use of brackets and spacing between words. Children then used the base code to create a Christmas tree image, each section had to be a different colour.

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Year 5 Micro:Bit

06-12-2023

This afternoon children have looked at how we can use a Micro:bit to create a multiplication game. Children needed to create number variables and then use multiplication to be able to get the numbers to multiply and together and display on the Micro:bit.

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Year 5 Micro:bit

29-11-2023

This afternoon Year 5 have continued to explore how we can code a Micro:bit. Today we looked at how to set and change the brightness of the LED lights on the Micro:bit when a button was pressed. Children then created code for it to display a sequence of different images.

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Year 6 Python Coding

27-11-2023

This afternoon Year 6 have continued to look at Python coding using Edublocks. Today children used lists, logic, loops, variables, and math to get a “turtle” to create a pattern with whilst changing colours after a number of turns.

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Year 5 Coding

22-11-2023

This afternoon Year 5 completed a coding activity on Hour of Code. Children used blocked coding to create images and animations. Children focused on the positioning of their shapes as well as inserting different blocks to make their code more efficient. Children then had to debug their code to makesure it works.

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Year 6 Computing

20-11-2023

Year 6 this afternoon continued to look at Python coding. Children used If statements and variables to create a program that drew a shape in a particular colour by asking questions.

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Year 5 Computing Micro:bit

17-11-2023

Wednesday afternoon Year 5 have continued to explore Mico:bits. Children used variables, If statements and Inputs to get a Micro:bit to play Rock, Paper & Scissors.

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We reviewed our favourite photographs…

19-10-2023

We reviewed our favourite photographs and discussed the impact the darkness or light had on our pictures #smithdowncomputing

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In computing we took photographs in dark places.

19-10-2023

In computing we took photographs in dark places. We then spoke about lighting, used torches and other light sources to improve our pictures #smithdowncomputing

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We are loving our computing topic – photography!

19-10-2023

We are loving our computing topic – photography! Today we thought about what makes a good photograph and had to capture a range of different images using different criteria. #smithdowncomputing

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We then went back to class and reviewed our work…

19-10-2023

We then went back to class and reviewed our work

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We started our new computing topic and became photographers this week

19-10-2023

We started our new computing topic and became photographers this week. We played photography bingo and experimented with different subjects #smithdowncomputing

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