ITEC Fall Conference 2026

Strawberry Hill Elementary has been working through the process of creating a computer science curriculum that is developmentally appropriate, hands-on, and incorporates different physical computing devices across grade levels. 


Join us to learn more about our process for designing, funding, and implementing our computer science curriculum for Kindergarten through 4th grade students. 


We will discuss:
-the physical computing devices that we have selected and why (KIBO, Sphero indi, and LEGO Spike Essentials)
-grant funding through the Iowa Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund
-our curriculum planning and implementation and our experience in the first year with students and classroom teachers

In this session I will review my K-6 Scratch Jr/Scratch scope and sequence. It will include some cross curricular projects and unplugged activities. I will share how I use the PRIMM model to teach, my folder of slide shows, and handout kids use to read the code. I will talk about where I still struggle with students as well as strategies I used that were successful. This session could be useful to both beginners and veteran Scratch users. 

What do Shake It Off, Mastermind, and Anti-Hero have in common with computer science? More than you might think! In this engaging and interactive session, we'll explore how Taylor Swift's music, lyrics, and Eras can be used as creative entry points for teaching computer science concepts such as algorithms, debugging, sequencing, pattern recognition, perseverance, collaboration, and problem-solving. Designed with elementary educators in mind, this session demonstrates how pop culture can make computational thinking more accessible, relatable, and memorable for students. Participants will leave with classroom-ready activities, lesson ideas, and a new perspective on integrating computer science across the curriculum—Taylor's Version.
Audience: Elementary Teachers, STEM/CS Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Technology Integrationists
Takeaways:

• Connect computer science concepts to familiar pop culture themes
• Explore engaging, student-friendly ways to teach computational thinking
• Discover ready-to-use activities for coding, problem-solving, and debugging
• Learn strategies for integrating CS into literacy, music, and classroom culture

Tagline:
"It's me, hi, I'm the CS teacher, it's me." 💜💻🎤

Participate in a student activity and then leave with a list to level-up your student engagement and curiosity in Computer Science 

Can a picture book spark a passion for coding? Absolutely! Learn about an elementary library where literacy meets computer science, and stories are used to introduce robotics and digital exploration.
In this session, you’ll discover how to blend storytelling with foundational tech skills. We will explore how to pair children's literature with screen-free, "unplugged" robots like TaleBots, Bee-Bots, and Cubettos to teach sequencing, debugging, and spatial thinking to your youngest learners. Then, we’ll pivot to the upper grades, with online resources that keep older computational thinkers challenged and engaged.
Whether you are a librarian, tech coach, or classroom teacher, you’ll walk away with a curated list of CS-aligned picture books, ready-to-use lesson ideas, and the inspiration to turn your library into a hub of innovation!

Starting a program can feel super overwhelming, but it is also the ultimate chance to build something amazing for your students. In this session, we will share how we built a K-5 Computer Science from scratch, including what worked, what flopped, and how we handled everything from schedules to standards. 

This session explores how schools and districts can create coherent K–12 computer science pathways that prepare students for a range of futures in a world powered by computing, from becoming thoughtful users of technology to pursuing careers in  computer science and related areas regardless of when they leave the education system.  .