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Standards & Guidelines
Lesson Overview
This lesson introduces students to what an algorithm is, using the making of peanut butter jelly sandwiches as an example. Students will learn that an algorithm is like a recipe and that different people tend to prefer different algorithms based on their varied interests and goals.
Total Lesson Time: 50 minutes
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to . . .
- Write a simple algorithm
- Create a list of goals for an algorithm
- Create a list of stakeholders for an algorithm
Pacing:
- Opening (2 min)
- Introduction to new material, terms, guided practice (8 min)
- Best PB+J Activity (10 min)
- Mid-workshop Mini-Lesson (10 min)
- Turn & Talk (10 min)
- Wrap-Up + Exit Ticket (10 min)
Vocabulary Terms: optimize
Planning Guide
Preparation Needed: 15-20 minutes
Materials:
- Best PB+J In-Person Worksheet
- Best PB+J In-Person Online Worksheet
Prep Needed for Teaching In-Person:
- Print the "Best PB+J" activity worksheets and Exit Ticket (one for each student)
- Optional: chart paper & markers
- Optional: create a student example/model using the worksheet
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Activity Usage
Copyright held by MIT STEP Lab
License: CC-BY-NC under Creative Commons
These materials are licensed as CC-BY-NC 4.0 International under creative commons. (For more information visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). This license allows you to remix, tweak, and build upon these materials non-commercially as long as you include acknowledgement to the creators. Derivative works should include acknowledgement but do not have to be licensed as CC-BY-NC. People interested in using this work for for-profit commercial purposes should reach out to Irene Lee at [email protected] for information as to how to proceed. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Attribution:
The original activity “Algorithms as Opinions” was created as part of the “An Ethics of Artificial Intelligence Curriculum for Middle School Students” by Blakeley H. Payne.