Computer Science boils down to solving problems with very specific sets of instructions because computers do exactly what they are told to do, in the order they are told to do it!  We think of computers as smart, but in reality they are quiet dumb.  They can’t anticipate what we want from them; only human programmers come up with precise instructions for computers to act on.  Learning to think like computer scientists or programmers can help children practice breaking down problems, thinking in logical sequences, and using precise language to give instructions

Some core elements of beginning to Think Like a Computer Scientist are:

• computers do only what they are told
• everyday processes like getting ready for school or making toast can be thought of as a set of instructions (ex. Get bread, put in toaster, push the lever down, wait for the bread to toast…etc.)
• computer scientists have to be very creative in order to solve problems, entertain, help, control complex machines, etc.
• computer science often begins with a problem to solve
• computer scientists mostly work in teams, not alone.  Teams are generally better at finding creative solutions to problems than individuals.
• “test and learn” strategies for problem solving are generally the best.  Making mistakes is always part of the journey to the right answer.