Part of Lesson Plan: Introduction to Decomposition and Abstraction Concepts

Activity Overview / Details

Begin a discussion about abstraction and how important the concept is in computer science. 

Make the two map drawing of London's Subway System available to the students.  Tell them the drawings are for the London's Subway system; one is an abstract map and the other is a geographical map.  Have them examine the map drawings and come to a conclusion on which one would be the best to use when travelling on the subway system. 

Next hand out the Blue Nude drawing by Henri Matisse to the students.  Place the students in groups of three or four and give the groups the task of determining what the drawing represents.  When done, have each group report out their conclusion.

Give the students the name of the drawing (Blue Nude). Begin a discussion to determine what properties does the Blue Nude drawing and the abstract subway map drawing have in common.  Lead them to conclude that both the abstract map drawing and Blue Nude drawing leave out a lot of detail about the respective subject and leave in just enough detail to give an idea about the purpose of the drawings..