Every lesson, mapped to a standard

A complete, lesson-by-lesson alignment map for Introduction to Computer Science. Every lesson and project is tied to specific CS standards — switch between Middle and High School below.

CSTA K-12 CS Standards (Level 2)

Lesson-by-Lesson Alignment Map

ℹ️ These are the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards, Level 2 (Grades 6–8) (nationally recognized, published by CSTA)

Lesson	Standard	Standards Covered
🖥️Unit 1 — The Invisible Machine
1.1 The Hardware Handshake	CSTA.CS	2-CS-01, 2-CS-03 — Device Design Recommendations, Troubleshooting
1.2 Binary — Language of Electricity	CSTA.DA	2-DA-07 — Data Encoding Schemes
1.3 The Invisible Web (Networking)	CSTA.NI	2-CS-03, 2-NI-05, 2-NI-06 — Troubleshooting, Security Measures, Encryption
1.4 Troubleshooting & Errors	CSTA.CS	2-CS-03 — Systematic Troubleshooting
🧠Unit 2 — Algorithmic Architectures
2.1 Power of Decomposition	CSTA.AP	2-AP-11, 2-AP-10, 2-AP-13 — Variables, Algorithms, Decomposition
2.2 Logic Flow & Decisions	CSTA.AP	2-AP-12, 2-AP-10 — Conditionals, Algorithm Design
2.3 Loops & Efficiency	CSTA.AP	2-AP-10, 2-AP-17 — Algorithms, Iterative Testing
🖱️Unit 3 — Creative Syntax
3.1 Variables & Data Types	CSTA.AP	2-AP-11, 2-AP-13 — Variables, Decomposition
3.2 Functions — The Skill Builders	CSTA.AP	2-AP-14, 2-AP-19 — Functions/Parameters, Documentation
📊Unit 4 — Data Storytelling
4.1 The Life of a Data Point	CSTA.DA	2-DA-07, 2-DA-09, 2-DA-08 — Encoding, Computational Models, Data Reliability
4.2 Data Visualization & Ethics	CSTA.DA	2-DA-09, 2-DA-08, 2-IC-23 — Computational Models, Data Reliability, Privacy Tradeoffs
🛡️Unit 5 — The Digital Citizen’s Defense
5.1 Cybersecurity & the Arms Race	CSTA.NI	2-NI-05, 2-NI-06 — Security Measures, Encryption
5.2 Ethics, AI, and the Future	CSTA.IC	2-IC-20, 2-IC-23 — Tech Tradeoffs, Privacy
🎯Projects (Cross-Unit)
P1 IT Consultant Challenge	CSTA.CS	2-CS-01, 2-CS-03, 2-DA-07, 2-AP-18 — Device Analysis, Troubleshooting, Encoding, Collaboration
P2 The Real-World Bot	CSTA.AP	2-AP-12, 2-AP-10, 2-AP-13, 2-AP-17 — Conditionals, Algorithms, Decomposition, Testing
P3 Social-Emotional App	CSTA.AP	2-AP-11, 2-AP-14, 2-AP-17 — Variables, Functions, Iterative Testing
P4 School Climate Dashboard	CSTA.DA	2-DA-07, 2-DA-09, 2-DA-08, 2-IC-23, 2-AP-18 — Data Collection, Models, Privacy, Collaboration
P5 Ethics Hackathon	CSTA.IC	2-IC-20, 2-IC-23, 2-NI-05, 2-NI-06, 2-AP-18 — Tech Impacts, Privacy, Security, Collaboration

CSTA Standard Categories (Level 2)

CSTA.CS — Computing Systems CSTA.AP — Algorithms & Programming CSTA.DA — Data & Analysis CSTA.NI — Networks & the Internet CSTA.IC — Impacts of Computing

All codes are prefixed 2- (CSTA Level 2, Grades 6–8).

CSTA K-12 CS Standards

Lesson-by-Lesson Alignment Map

ℹ️ These are the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (nationally recognized, published by CSTA). Codes prefixed 2- are Level 2 (Grades 6–8), 3A- are Level 3A (Grades 9–10), and 3B- are Level 3B (Grades 11–12).

Lesson	Standard	Standards Covered
🧠Unit 1 — Algorithmic Thinking
1.1 Decomposition & Abstraction	CSTA.AP	2-AP-13, 3A-CS-01, 3A-AP-17 — Decomposition, Abstraction, Modularity
1.2 Flowcharts & Pseudocode	CSTA.AP	2-AP-10, 2-AP-12, 3A-AP-15 — Flowcharts, Pseudocode, Control Structures
1.3 Generalizing (Lists/Variables)	CSTA.AP	2-AP-11, 2-AP-14, 3A-AP-14, 3A-AP-17, 3B-AP-12 — Variables, Lists, Reusability, Data Structures
1.4 Search & Sort (Efficiency)	CSTA.AP	3A-AP-13, 3B-AP-10, 3B-AP-11, 3B-AP-15 — Algorithms, Efficiency, Pattern Generalization
📊Unit 2 — Data Analysis
2.1 Encoding (Binary/Pixels)	CSTA.DA	2-DA-07, 3A-DA-09 — Data Encoding, Bit Representation
2.2 Data Collection/Reliability	CSTA.DA	2-DA-08, 3A-DA-10, 3B-DA-06 — Data Collection, Reliability, Storage Tradeoffs
2.3 Data Scrubbing (Pandas)	CSTA.DA	2-DA-08, 3A-DA-10, 3B-DA-05 — Data Processing, Pattern Identification
2.4 SQL & Storytelling	CSTA.DA	3A-DA-11, 3A-DA-12, 3B-DA-05, 3B-DA-06, 3B-IC-25 — Visualization, Computational Models, Data Ethics
🌐Unit 3 — Networking & Internet
3.1 Packet Journey (TCP/IP)	CSTA.NI	2-NI-04, 3A-NI-04, 3B-NI-03 — Protocols, Data Transmission, Network Reliability
3.2 Internet Infrastructure	CSTA.NI	2-NI-04, 3A-NI-04, 3B-NI-03 — Network Infrastructure, Routers & Servers
3.3 Cybersecurity & Encryption	CSTA.NI	2-NI-05, 2-NI-06, 3A-NI-05, 3A-NI-06, 3A-NI-07, 3A-NI-08, 3B-NI-04 — Cybersecurity, Encryption, Security Tradeoffs
3.4 APIs & The Web	CSTA.NI	2-NI-04, 3A-NI-04, 3A-IC-29, 3B-AP-16 — APIs, Protocols, User Data Privacy
3.5 Terms of Service & Ethics	CSTA.IC	2-IC-23, 3A-IC-29, 3A-IC-30, 3B-IC-28 — Privacy Law, Digital Rights, EULAs
🖥️Unit 4 — Programming
4.1 Python Fundamentals	CSTA.AP	2-AP-11, 2-AP-19, 3A-AP-23, 3B-AP-24 — Data Types, Variables, Documentation
4.2 Decisions & Loops	CSTA.AP	2-AP-12, 3A-AP-15, 3B-AP-13 — Conditionals, Loops, Control Structures
4.3 Functions/Modular Design	CSTA.AP	2-AP-14, 3A-AP-17, 3A-AP-18, 3B-AP-14 — Functions, Modular Design, Code Organization
4.4 Debugging & Testing	CSTA.AP	2-AP-17, 3A-AP-21, 3B-AP-21, 3B-AP-22, 3B-AP-23 — Testing, Debugging, Code Review
4.5 Collaborative/Git	CSTA.AP	2-AP-18, 3A-AP-22, 3A-AP-23, 3B-AP-19, 3B-AP-20 — Collaboration, Version Control, Team Roles
⚖️Unit 5 — Impacts of Computing
5.1 Digital Citizenship/Rights	CSTA.IC	2-IC-23, 3A-IC-29, 3A-IC-30, 3B-IC-28 — Digital Rights, Privacy, IP Law
5.2 AI & Algorithmic Bias	CSTA.IC	2-IC-21, 3A-IC-25, 3B-AP-08, 3B-AP-09, 3B-DA-07, 3B-IC-25 — AI, Algorithmic Bias, Ethical Impacts
5.3 Intellectual Property	CSTA.IC	2-AP-16, 3A-AP-20, 3A-IC-28, 3B-IC-28 — Intellectual Property, Licensing, Attribution
5.4 CS Careers	CSTA.IC	2-IC-20, 2-AP-15, 2-AP-18, 3A-IC-24, 3A-IC-27, 3B-AP-17, 3B-IC-26, 3B-IC-27 — Careers, Collaboration, Computing’s Cultural Impact

CSTA Standard Categories

CSTA.AP — Algorithms & Programming CSTA.DA — Data & Analysis CSTA.NI — Networks & the Internet CSTA.IC — Impacts of Computing

2- = Grades 6–8 • 3A- = Grades 9–10 • 3B- = Grades 11–12