The CSTA (Computer Science Teachers Association) Computer Science Standards describe what students should learn about computing at each grade band. Scratch STEM is built on three CSTA concepts — Algorithms & Programming (A&P) at its core, with the complete Data & Analysis (DA) strand and most of Impacts of Computing (IC) — progressing through CSTA Levels 1A → 1B → 2 across grades K–9 (ceiling: CSTA Level 2).
Each chapter is mapped to a primary CSTA standard (A&P, DA, or IC) and to one Common Core Math standard, delivered by the Math Challenge at the end of the chapter. The wider design is also informed by the standards below.
| Level | Grades | CSTA band | What learners can do | CSTA standards mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Trainee | K–1 | 1A | Build programs with sequences and simple loops; model and follow algorithms (motion, looks, sound). | 1A-AP-08/09/10/11/12/14 · 1A-DA-05/06/07 · 1A-IC-16 |
| 2 · Apprentice | 2–3 | 1B | Create programs with events, loops, and conditionals so sprites react and games begin. | 1B-AP-08/10/11/12/14/15 · 1B-DA-06/07 · 1B-IC-20/21 |
| 3 · Junior Coder | 4–5 | 1B | Use variables, clones, and strings; break problems into smaller named tasks. | 1B-AP-09/10/11/12/13/15/17 · 1B-IC-19/20 |
| 4 · Coder | 6–7 | 2 | Build reusable procedures with parameters; use lists and pen; decompose larger programs. | 2-AP-10/11/12/13/14 · 2-DA-07 |
| 5 · Senior Coder | 8–9 | 2 | Combine nested control and compound conditionals; design with flowcharts; work with data. | 2-AP-10/11/12/13/17 · 2-DA-08/09 |
| 6 · Tech Lead | 9 | 2 | Prototype with algorithms, generalize with lists, and iteratively develop a complete game. | 2-AP-11/12/13/14/17/19 · 2-DA-08 · 2-IC-20/21/22/23 |
Each chapter ends with a Math Challenge: one problem built from the very blocks and numbers that chapter already put on screen, tagged to a Common Core Math standard. Students answer it as maths, not by running the code. It is practice, not a test — nothing here is scored or reported.
| Level | Grades | Maths it draws on | CCSS-Math standards mapped |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Trainee | K–1 | Geometry · Measurement · Operations · Place value · Counting | 1.G.A.31.MD.A.11.MD.C.41.OA.A.11.OA.A.22.NBT.A.22.NBT.B.52.OA.C.32.OA.C.4K.CC.B.5 |
| 2 · Apprentice | 2–3 | Measurement · Place value · Fractions · Operations · Geometry | 3.MD.B.33.NBT.A.33.NF.A.13.NF.A.33.OA.A.13.OA.A.33.OA.A.43.OA.D.83.OA.D.94.NBT.A.24.NBT.B.54.NF.C.65.G.A.15.NBT.B.7 |
| 3 · Junior Coder | 4–5 | Operations · Place value · Fractions · Geometry · Expressions · Number system · Ratios · Statistics | 2.OA.B.23.NBT.A.23.OA.A.14.NBT.A.24.NF.A.14.OA.B.45.G.A.15.NBT.A.45.NBT.B.75.OA.A.16.EE.A.26.EE.B.56.EE.B.66.EE.B.76.EE.B.86.EE.C.96.NS.C.66.NS.C.76.RP.A.16.RP.A.36.SP.B.57.NS.A.1 |
| 4 · Coder | 6–7 | Geometry · Number system · Statistics · Expressions · Ratios · Functions | 5.G.A.16.G.A.36.NS.C6.SP.B.57.EE.A.17.EE.B.37.EE.B.47.G.B.57.NS.A.17.RP.A.27.RP.A.37.SP.C.58.EE.C.78.F.A.18.F.B.48.G.A.5 |
| 5 · Senior Coder | 8–9 | Measurement · Number system · Statistics · Geometry · Algebra · Functions · Circles · Trigonometry · Data | 4.MD.C.56.NS.C.66.SP.B.46.SP.B.57.G.A.18.G.A.18.G.A.38.G.B.78.G.B.8HSA-CED.A.3HSA-REI.B.3HSA-SSE.A.1HSF-BF.A.1HSF-IF.B.5HSF-IF.C.7HSF-LE.A.1HSG-C.B.5HSG-SRT.C.6HSS-ID.A.1HSS-ID.A.2HSS-ID.A.3 |
| 6 · Tech Lead | 9 | Ratios · Functions · Algebra · Data | 7.RP.A.27.RP.A.38.F.A.18.F.A.3HSA-CED.A.1HSA-CED.A.2HSA-CED.A.3HSA-REI.B.3HSA-REI.B.4HSF-IF.A.3HSF-LE.A.2HSS-ID.A.1HSS-ID.B.5 |