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CSTA Standards for grades 6-8

Our platform aligns with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Standards for grades 6-8

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Key skills development

Here’s how Pico helps students meet key CSTA standards in Grades 6-8

Computing systems

Empowering understanding of tech interactions

Pico Coding helps students explore how hardware, software, and networks interact. By engaging with various devices—such as laptops and tablets—students learn to analyze user experiences and recommend improvements. This hands-on approach builds their confidence in troubleshooting and problem-solving.

Students using Pico Coding in a classroom

Networks & the internet

Connecting students to the digital world

Through Pico’s browser-based platform, students gain practical experience in how data is transmitted over networks and the internet. They explore essential concepts like cybersecurity and data privacy, learning how to protect their accounts through secure login systems.

Data & analysis

Transforming data into insights

Pico Coding encourages students to work with data creatively and effectively. Through interactive projects, they learn to represent data in various forms—such as strings, numbers, and booleans—and to collect and transform this data to drive game logic.

Algorithms & programming

Building problem-solving skills through code

At Pico, students dive into the world of algorithms and programming with structured, step-by-step lessons. They design algorithms, create variables, and implement loops and conditionals while developing their own games.

Impacts of computing

Understanding the broader implications of technology

Pico Coding emphasizes the societal and ethical impacts of computing, encouraging students to think critically about technology's role in their lives. They explore topics like bias in technology and the importance of data privacy, fostering a sense of ethical responsibility.

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For loops

Learn user input through shooting bubbles

Bubbles is a classic arcade game where students shoot bubbles from a cannon to connect three or more of the same colored bubbles and pop them. Students will learn how to use a for loop to create multiple rows of bubbles. They’ll also apply conditional logic to develop the game mechanics for the cannon and bubbles.

Check out Bubbles

Advanced conditionals

Learn advanced conditions through creating kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is a creative drawing program where students experiment with five unique styles to generate beautiful patterns and designs. Students will learn to use if statements and for loops to rotate and reflect their drawings, creating a mesmerizing kaleidoscope effect.

Check out kaleidoscope

Curriculum alignment

All our contents are aligned to the CSTA standards for grades 6-8

Core concept

Standard

Description

Pico alignment

Computing systems I

2-CS-01

Recommend improvements to the design of computing devices, based on an analysis of how users interact with the devices

Students familiarize with computing devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile devices while interacting with Pico contents

Computing systems
II

2-CS-02

Design projects that combine hardware and software components to collect and exchange data

N/A

Computing systems
III

2-CS-03

Systematically identify and fix problems with computing devices and their components

Students familiarize with computing devices and their components with Pico - including the use of keyboard, monitors, trackpads, mouse etc

Networks & the
Internet I

2-NI-04

Model the role of protocols in transmitting data across networks and the Internet

Use of wifi and internet connection together with a browser to access Pico

Networks & the
Internet II

2-NI-05

Explain how physical and digital security measures protect electronic information

Use of browser based login system. Students learn to keep their Pico accounts secure and protect information in their accounts

Networks & the
Internet III

2-NI-06

Apply multiple methods of encryption to model the secure transmission of information

N/A

Data & Analysis I

2-DA-07

Represent data using multiple encoding schemes

Dinosaur, Underwater, Birdie teach students that data can be represented as strings, numbers and booleans

Data & Analysis II

2-DA-08

Collect data using computational tools and transform the data to make it more useful and reliable

Rocket, Trampoline, Potions teach students to collect and transform relevant data to alter game logic

Data & Analysis III

2-DA-09

Refine computational models based on the data they have generated

Nibbles, Crossing teach students to think in terms of computational models to represent data and game setup

Algorithms &
Programming I

2-AP-10

Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms

Match, Donuts use concrete examples to illustrate the idea of algorithms

Algorithms &
Programming II

2-AP-11

Refine computational models based on the data they have generated

Nibbles, Crossing teach students to think in terms of computational models to represent data and game setup

Algorithms &
Programming III

2-AP-12

Refine computational models based on the data they have generated

Bubbles, Sphera and Arrows teach students to create conditionals and control structures including compound if statements and for loops

Algorithms &
Programming IV

2-AP-13

Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs

Galaxy, Arrows and Sphera teach students that making a game is composed of subproblems which together enables the core game logic

Algorithms &
Programming V

2-AP-14

Create procedures with parameters to organize code and make it easier to reuse

Fishing, Arrows and Sphera teach students to use functions and parameters to encourage code reuse

Algorithms &
Programming VI

2-AP-15

Refine computational models based on the data they have generated

Nibbles, Crossing teach students to think in terms of computational models to represent data and game setup

Algorithms &
Programming VII

2-AP-16

Incorporate existing code, media, and libraries into original programs, and give attribution

Pico contents teach students to incorporate media files such as pixel art characters and objects into their programs

Algorithms &
Programming VIII

2-AP-17

Systematically test and refine programs using a range of test cases

Pico contents encourage students to experiment and test and every stage of the development cycle

Algorithms &
Programming IX

2-AP-18

Distribute tasks and maintain a project timeline when collaboratively developing computational artifacts

Pico contents teach students to see coding as a series of tasks or steps that developed collaboratively

Algorithms &
Programming X

2-AP-19

Document programs in order to make them easier to follow, test, and debug

Pico contents encourage the use of comments, variable naming conventions, data structures that enable the code to be easy to follow, test and debug

Impact of
Computing I

2-IC-20

Compare tradeoffs associated with computing technologies that affect people's everyday activities and career options

Pico teaches students that coding is a way to communicate with the computer and the various career options that comes with coding

Impact of
Computing II

2-IC-21

Discuss issues of bias and accessibility in the design of existing technologies

Pico teaches students the accessibility of user interfaces together with the use of AI feedback system (PicoBot)

Impact of
Computing III

2-IC-22

Collaborate with many contributors through strategies such as crowdsourcing or surveys when creating a computational artifact

Fireworks, Balloons and Shield teach students to collaborate on design and create interesting computational artifacts

Impact of
Computing IV

2-IC-23

Describe tradeoffs between allowing information to be public and keeping information private and secure

Pico teaches student the difference between data in their private accounts and data outside their accounts, protected by a browser based login system

Core concept

Standard

Pico alignment

Computing systems I

2-CS-01

Students familiarize with computing devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile devices while interacting with Pico contents

Computing systems II

2-CS-02

N/A

Computing systems III

2-CS-03

Students familiarize with computing devices and their components with Pico - including the use of keyboard, monitors, trackpads, mouse etc

Networks & the
Internet I

2-NI-04

Use of wifi and internet connection together with a browser to access Pico

Networks & the
Internet II

2-NI-05

Use of browser based login system. Students learn to keep their Pico accounts secure and protect information in their accounts

Networks & the
Internet III

2-NI-06

N/A

Data & Analysis I

2-DA-07

Dinosaur, Underwater, Birdie teach students that data can be represented as strings, numbers and booleans

Data & Analysis II

2-DA-08

Rocket, Trampoline, Potions teach students to collect and transform relevant data to alter game logic

Data & Analysis III

2-DA-09

Nibbles, Crossing teach students to think in terms of computational models to represent data and game setup

Algorithms &
Programming I

2-AP-10

Match, Donuts use concrete examples to illustrate the idea of algorithms

Algorithms &
Programming II

2-DA-11

Nibbles, Crossing teach students to think in terms of computational models to represent data and game setup

Algorithms &
Programming III

2-DA-12

Bubbles, Sphera and Arrows teach students to create conditionals and control structures including compound if statements and for loops

Algorithms &
Programming IV

2-DA-13

Galaxy, Arrows and Sphera teach students that making a game is composed of subproblems which together enables the core game logic

Algorithms &
Programming V

2-DA-14

Fishing, Arrows and Sphera teach students to use functions and parameters to encourage code reuse

Algorithms &
Programming VI

2-DA-15

Nibbles, Crossing teach students to think in terms of computational models to represent data and game setup

Algorithms &
Programming VII

2-DA-16

Pico contents teach students to incorporate media files such as pixel art characters and objects into their programs

Algorithms &
Programming VIII

2-DA-17

Pico contents encourage students to experiment and test and every stage of the development cycle

Algorithms &
Programming IX

2-DA-18

Pico contents teach students to see coding as a series of tasks or steps that developed collaboratively

Algorithms &
Programming X

2-DA-19

Pico contents encourage the use of comments, variable naming conventions, data structures that enable the code to be easy to follow, test and debug

Impact of
Computing I

2-IC-20

Pico teaches students that coding is a way to communicate with the computer and the various career options that comes with coding

Impact of
Computing II

2-IC-21

Pico teaches students the accessibility of user interfaces together with the use of AI feedback system (PicoBot)

Impact of
Computing III

2-IC-22

Fireworks, Balloons and Shield teach students to collaborate on design and create interesting computational artifacts

Impact of
Computing IV

2-IC-23

Pico teaches student the difference between data in their private accounts and data outside their accounts, protected by a browser based login system

Standard

Pico alignment

2-CS-01

Meets

2-CS-02

Does not meet

2-CS-03

Meets

2-NI-04

Meets

2-NI-05

Meets

2-NI-06

Does not meet

2-DA-07

Meets

2-DA-08

Meets

2-DA-09

Meets

2-AP-10

Meets

2-AP-11

Meets

2-AP-12

Meets

2-AP-13

Meets

2-AP-14

Meets

2-AP-15

Meets

2-AP-16

Meets

2-AP-17

Meets

2-AP-18

Meets

2-AP-19

Meets

2-IC-20

Meets

2-IC-21

Meets

2-IC-22

Meets

2-IC-23

Meets

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