Lesson Plan: Computing Science - Introduction to PostgreSQL

Subject: Technologies (Computing Science) Level: First Level (Primary 4-7) Topic: Introduction to PostgreSQL and Basic Problem Solving Skills

Desired Outcome: I can demonstrate a range of basic problem-solving skills by building simple programs to carry out a given task using an appropriate language (PostgreSQL).

Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Resources: - Computers with PostgreSQL installed - PostgreSQL documentation or online tutorials - Whiteboard or flipchart - Markers or chalk - Handouts with exercises

Introduction (5 minutes): 1. Greet the students and introduce the topic of the lesson: Introduction to PostgreSQL and basic problem-solving skills. 2. Explain that PostgreSQL is a popular open-source relational database management system used for storing and retrieving data. 3. Discuss the importance of problem-solving skills in computing science and how they can be applied to building programs using PostgreSQL.

Activity 1: Understanding Relational Databases (10 minutes): 1. Explain the concept of a relational database and its components (tables, rows, columns). 2. Discuss the advantages of using a relational database management system like PostgreSQL. 3. Show examples of real-life scenarios where databases are used (e.g., online shopping, student records). 4. Engage the students in a brief discussion about the benefits of using databases for storing and retrieving data.

Activity 2: Introduction to PostgreSQL (15 minutes): 1. Demonstrate how to install and set up PostgreSQL on the computers. 2. Explain the basic syntax and commands used in PostgreSQL (e.g., SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE). 3. Show examples of simple SQL queries and explain their purpose. 4. Provide handouts with exercises for the students to practice writing basic SQL queries using PostgreSQL.

Activity 3: Building Simple Programs with PostgreSQL (25 minutes): 1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups. 2. Provide a scenario or task (e.g., creating a student database, managing a library inventory) and ask the students to design a simple program using PostgreSQL to solve the problem. 3. Encourage the students to discuss and plan their program, considering the necessary tables, columns, and relationships. 4. Allow the students to implement their program using PostgreSQL, guiding them as needed. 5. Provide support and assistance to ensure all students can complete the task successfully. 6. Ask each group to present their program to the class, explaining their problem-solving approach and demonstrating the program’s functionality.

Conclusion (5 minutes): 1. Recap the key concepts covered in the lesson, including relational databases, PostgreSQL, and basic problem-solving skills. 2. Discuss the importance of practicing problem-solving skills in computing science. 3. Encourage the students to continue exploring and experimenting with PostgreSQL and other programming languages to enhance their problem-solving abilities.

Assessment: - Observe students’ engagement and participation during activities. - Evaluate students’ understanding through their completion of handout exercises. - Assess students’ problem-solving skills and ability to build simple programs using PostgreSQL during the group activity.