# Exploratory class **URL:** \ **Category:** CS Discoveries\ **Created:** [August 27, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/exploratory-class/19152 "2018-08-27T12:39:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![parham\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@parham\_m](https://forum.code.org/u/parham_m)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/exploratory-class/19152/1 "2018-08-27T12:39:14Z")
Looking for ideas for a new middle school class that is being offered. This year we added an exploratory type class (along with several other classes) where they are shorter, only 6 weeks long, for 8 graders to try out different things. It is not enough time for CS Discoveries and CS Fundamentals seems to low, so what could I do for a CS class? ---
**Author:** ![michelle\_johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@michelle\_johnson](https://forum.code.org/u/michelle_johnson)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/exploratory-class/19152/2 "2018-09-02T20:33:41Z")
CS Discoveries can be broken into smaller chunks. So you could do Unit 1 Problem Solving and part of Unit 2 Web Development. Or just chapter 1 in Unit 3 Animations and Games. Unit 4 The Design Process can also stand alone. I would suggest that you look through the curriculum and then decide which units would be most interesting to your students. ---
**Author:** ![mike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.code.org/mike/32/5229_2.png) [@mike](https://forum.code.org/u/mike)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/exploratory-class/19152/3 "2018-09-04T13:45:48Z")
Hi Michael, If you have 6 weeks, you could do the majority of Unit 1 and the first chapter of Unit 2. With CS Discoveries, the units build on each other and are intended to be taught in order. I would suggest starting at the beginning and seeing how far you get for the first time through. 6 weeks is unfortunately not a ton of time for this. You mentioned that you had also checked out CS Fundamentals. I wanted to be sure you were aware of the [Express Course](https://studio.code.org/s/express-2018/). This course has been designed to compress the key learnings of Courses C-F into a shorter period by going at a more accelerated pace. ---
**Author:** ![D.Boduk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@D.Boduk](https://forum.code.org/u/D.Boduk)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/exploratory-class/19152/4 "2019-01-15T01:25:46Z")
Hi Mike, I will be using [Code.org](http://Code.org) for my year 7 and 8 students. They have little to no experience with coding. Do you recommend the Express Course to start them off before moving onto Discoveries? I was thinking of dedicating Term 1 to the Express Course and Term 2 for Web Development Thank you in advance ---
**Author:** ![bradleywellsashley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.code.org/bradleywellsashley/32/522_2.png) [@bradleywellsashley](https://forum.code.org/u/bradleywellsashley)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/exploratory-class/19152/5 "2019-01-21T17:37:02Z")
D.Boduk, Actually the Computer Science Discoveries is made for student with no coding experience. You start with Unit 1 - Problem Solving - and then jump into Unit 2 Web Development using those problem solving strategies. The first 3 units are great for a years worth of middle school curriculum (depending on how often you see them) and then the next year could be Units 4,5,6. I know a lot of schools are approaching it that way and thats why the Circuit Playground subsidy has changed. I would suggest doing Units 1/2/3 at the same time for Grades 7/8 (so you get the practice and see the curriculum and how multiple students view it) and then the next year doing Units 4/5/6 with 8th Grade (that had CSD 1/2/3 the previous year) and doing Units 1/2/3 with the incoming 7th Graders. Hope that helps! Brad