Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
6th Year Computer Science.
This curriculum introduces 6th Class pupils to the fundamentals of computer science, computational thinking, and digital citizenship. Aligned with the Primary Curriculum Framework and the Digital Learning Framework, it empowers students to become active creators of technology rather than passive consumers.
01Computational Thinking and Problem Solving
Pupils develop foundational problem-solving skills by learning to break down complex tasks, identify patterns, and design logical step-by-step solutions.
Pupils learn to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and create step-by-step instructions to solve them.
Pupils identify similarities across different problems and learn to ignore irrelevant details to focus on what matters.
Pupils use logical reasoning to predict outcomes and design flowcharts to visually represent algorithms.
02Programming Fundamentals
Pupils transition from unplugged activities to block-based coding environments, learning core programming concepts to create interactive projects.
Pupils write their first block-based programs, ensuring commands are executed in the correct order to achieve a goal.
Pupils discover how to make their code more efficient by using loops to repeat instructions.
Pupils learn how to create and use variables to store, retrieve, and modify data within their programs.
Pupils introduce decision-making into their code using 'if-then-else' statements to respond to different inputs.
03Digital Citizenship and Online Safety
Pupils explore their rights and responsibilities in the digital world, focusing on online safety, respectful communication, and media literacy.
Pupils explore the concept of a digital footprint and understand how their online actions impact their digital identity.
Pupils learn to identify cyberbullying, understand its impact, and practice strategies for respectful online communication.
Pupils develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of online information and media.
04Data and Systems
Pupils investigate how computer systems operate, how networks connect the world, and how data is collected and visualised.
Pupils investigate the basic hardware and software components of a computer system and how they interact.
Pupils explore how computers connect to each other to form networks and how the global internet functions.
Pupils learn to collect data using digital tools and create visual representations to identify trends and draw conclusions.