1. Home
  2. Curriculum
  3. Unit 2

API Can Code Curriculum

Unit 2 | Computational Foundations of Data Science

This unit introduces students to the field of data science and helps students gain the essential computational skills required for it. They will learn how to programmatically retrieve and manipulate data from diverse Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) using a block-based platform.


Through this curricular unit, students will learn to work with data and manipulate it to meet their analysis requirements. They will also recognize the value of programming techniques in automating efficient workflows for this process.

Join the API Can Code Community

Lesson 2.1: What is Data Science?

In this lesson, students will talk about what data science is, experience a small-scale data science investigation, and watch a video for observations on all the activities that make up “data science.”

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-DA-11, 3A-DA-12, 3A-IC-24, 3A-IC-26, 3B-DA-06, 3B-IC-25

Lesson 2.2: Manually Processing CSV Data

In this lesson, students will do some basic data manipulation from a CSV, first in Google Sheets and then briefly in EduBlocks. The goal of the lesson is primarily to suggest the benefit of programming over manual manipulation.

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-DA-09, 3A-DA-10, 3A-DA-11, 3A-DA-12, 3A-AP-16

Lesson 2.3: What is the role of Programming in Data Science?

In this lesson, students will be introduced to EduBlocks. They will work with the Mario Kart dataset and learn how to manipulate and filter the data.

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-AP-13, 3A-AP-15, 3A-AP-17, 3A-AP-18, 3A-AP-23, 3A-CS-03

Lesson 2.R*: Introduction to EduBlocks

In this lesson, students create an account in EduBlocks and complete a series of exercises on using variables, conditional statements, and loops.

*Note: This lesson is optional, as some classes may have covered the material already if they include a programming focus. However, it is recommended because it establishes where to find particular blocks in the EduBlocks UI and how to use them.

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-AP-13, 3A-AP-14, 3A-AP-15, 3A-AP-16, 3A-AP-19, 3A-AP-23,

Lesson 2.4: Accessing Data with APIs

In this lesson, students will create a RapidAPI account and use it to access API data from a movie database. They will also continue to use EduBlocks to programmatically access and print different parts of the dataset.

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-AP-13, 3A-AP-14, 3A-AP-15, 3A-AP-17, 3A-AP-18, 3A-DA-11, 3B-DA-06

Lesson 2.5: Preparing Data for Analysis

In this lesson, students will complete a full, small-scale data science investigation on the Billboard Top 100 dataset.

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-AP-13, 3A-AP-14, 3A-AP-17, 3A-AP-23, 3A-DA-11, 3A-DA-12, 3B-DA-06

Lesson 2.6: Manipulating Data

In this lesson, students will complete a full, small-scale data science investigation on the NBA dataset.

  • CSTA Standards: 3A-AP-13, 3A-AP-14, 3A-AP-15, 3A-AP-16, 3A-AP-19, 3A-AP-23, 3A-DA-9, 3A-DA-10, 3A-IC-24, 3A-IC-27

CSTA Standards Covered in Unit 2

Data & Analysis:

  • 3A-DA-09: Translate between different bit representations of real-world phenomena, such as characters, numbers, and images.
  • 3A-DA-10: Evaluate the tradeoffs in how data elements are organized and where data is stored.
  • 3A-DA-11: Create interactive data visualizations using software tools to help others better understand real-world phenomena.
  • 3A-DA-12: Create computational models that represent the relationships among different elements of data collected from a phenomenon or process.
  • 3B-DA-06: Select data collection tools and techniques to generate data sets that support a claim or communicate information.

Impacts of Computing:

  • 3A-IC-24: Evaluate the ways computing impacts personal, ethical, social, economic, and cultural practices.
  • 3A-IC-27: Use tools and methods for collaboration on a project to increase connectivity of people in different cultures and career fields.
  • 3B-IC-25: Evaluate computational artifacts to maximize their beneficial effects and minimize harmful effects on society.

Algorithms & Programming:

  • 3A-AP-13: Create prototypes that use algorithms to solve computational problems by leveraging prior student knowledge and personal interests.
  • 3A-AP-14: Use lists to simplify solutions, generalizing computational problems instead of repeatedly using simple variables.
  • 3A-AP-15: Justify the selection of specific control structures when tradeoffs involve implementation, readability, and program performance, and explain the benefits and drawbacks of choices made.
  • 3A-AP-16: Design and iteratively develop computational artifacts for practical intent, personal expression, or to address a societal issue by using events to initiate instructions.
  • 3A-AP-17: Decompose problems into smaller components through systematic analysis, using constructs such as procedures, modules, and/or objects.
  • 3A-AP-18: Create artifacts by using procedures within a program, combinations of data and procedures, or independent but interrelated programs.
  • 3A-AP-19: Systematically design and develop programs for broad audiences by incorporating feedback from users.
  • 3A-AP-23: Document design decisions using text, graphics, presentations, and/or demonstrations in the development of complex programs.

Computing Systems:

  • 3A-CS-03: Develop guidelines that convey systematic troubleshooting strategies that others can use to identify and fix errors.

Useful Links

API Can Code is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)