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Start 2026 with creativity, innovation, and ready-to-use resources for integrating computational thinking

January / February 2026 SDSP Newsletter

Welcome back from winter break! As we kick off the new year, we're excited to spotlight resources that bring creativity and innovation into science instruction.

Science isn't just about understanding the world, it's about designing solutions, collecting data, and thinking computationally to solve real problems. Just as scientists use coding to program instruments and analyze data, our students can develop these essential skills right in their classrooms. And speaking of creativity in science, have you seen the winners of the 2025 Agar Art Contest? Microbiologists from around the world created stunning artwork using live microbes on agar plates, demonstrating that science and art beautifully intersect. Check out the incredible submissions here.

This newsletter features the work of local teachers who integrated computer science into climate and environmental science units, and all their curriculum resources are now available for you to use. From programming micro:bits to measure temperature and create "Cooler Communities," to tracking rocket acceleration in physics, these teacher-created lessons show computational thinking in action.

Whether you're curious about bringing coding into your classroom for the first time or looking for new ways to engage students in authentic scientific practices, these resources and stories will inspire your instructional planning for 2026.

If you're interested in integrating computer science into your classroom this year, you can visit the San Diego Science Project page for a comprehensive collection of ready-to-use resources. Each resource includes complete lesson sequences, step-by-step coding tutorials, student handouts, and teacher implementation guides. Find units like Cooler Communities (where students code micro:bits as temperature sensors to study urban heat), Rocket Acceleration (using accelerometers to collect data during launches), Pollinator Action (coding devices to investigate habitat conditions), and Conductivity Explorations. Units span grades 5-12, and each includes blog posts from teachers sharing their classroom experiences.

"It fuels student curiosity and is a really interesting way to have hands-on learning and data interpretation for our students."

-- Rachel Davey

Teachers share their experiences bringing computer science into science instruction. Hear how micro:bits made coding accessible for all learners, how students designed real solutions to local environmental problems, and why teachers say this work sparked curiosity and opened doors for students who don't usually see themselves in STEM.

"You could see it in their eyes. It was audible. You could hear it." 

-- Kim Klinko

The Computer Science Integration program is featured as one of nine California Subject Matter Projects showcasing successful approaches to integrating computer science into K-12 academic disciplines. The statewide initiative highlighted programs that served 968 educators and engaged over 2,000 students across California, demonstrating that cross-disciplinary CS integration promotes creativity, innovation, and student-centered learning across multiple disciplines.