OVERVIEW

Activity Overview:

students will be learning how to create an algorithm/sequence by giving set directions to their ‘bot’ (another student) to go to a specific location inside a room with tile floor (7x7 tile for each paired group). They may work in groups and take turns giving directions to their ‘bot’ and rotate bots as they reach their destination.

Meta description

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Mathematics, Science, Reading/Language Arts, speaking/listening
• Grade Level : K-2, 3-5
• Computer Science Domains:
  • Computing Systems, Algorithms and Programming
• Computer Science Principles:
  • Collaborating Around Computing, Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems, Creating Computational Artifacts, Communicating About Computing
• Materials:
  • graph paper, sticky notes, markers, gym/hall with square tile floor
• Considerations:
  • no

Lesson Plan

Overview

students will be learning how to create an algorithm/sequence by giving set directions to their ‘bot’ (another student) to go to a specific location inside a room with tile floor (7x7 tile for each paired group). They may work in groups and take turns giving directions to their ‘bot’ and rotate bots as they reach their destination.

ASSESSMENT PRE/POST-TEST

Successfully guide their ‘bot’ to destination with no bugs and using no more than 10 ‘blocks’/directions.

OBJECTIVES

create algorithms to successfully guide their ‘bot’ to a designated location. Students will be able to create an algorithm with no more than 10 ‘blocks’/directions to reach their destination. Students will be able to debug their bot by discussing what errors were made in their algorithm and how to fix it.

CATCH/HOOK

Stand at a different spot in a room and close your eyes. Tell students to guide you to grab a pen from your desk.

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS

After the hook, explain to students that the directions they gave is call in the computer science world, an algorithm which is a plan and/or a set of step-by-step instructions to solve a problem). Algorithms are not just in the CS world but also in real life such as getting ready for school, baking a cake, building Legos, etc.

Explain that students today will be forming into groups of 3, creating algorithms to guide their ‘bot’ (another student). They will take turns giving directions and rotate ‘bots’ as each reaches their destination. Tell them that they will run into errors know as ‘bugs’ and their goal is to create an algorithm with no bugs by taking away a direction or adding something to fix it or squash the bug. Depending on grade level, they can write down directions on a white board or piece of paper, collaborating with their group on how to guide their ‘bot’. For the younger group, they can write down arrows and each arrow and represent that amount of steps to take in that direction. (Ex: Three left arrows means to turn left and take three steps)

Their next challenge after that is to create an algorithm using no more than 10 blocks/directions. This can be done outside at the playground or inside and they must write out their algorithm before their bot can move. If there’s no algorithm, bot cannot do anything.

If groups are done quickly, give them an extension where once the bot reaches their destination, have them do some specific type of movement (clapping, dancing, jumping etc.) .

Supplements

Any items in this section are the property & under the license of their respective owners.

REVIEW

Bring the class back together and ask them what is an algorithm and what is its importance. What is a bug? Why is the sequence or order so important? They will need to know this once they move over to the next lesson using Micro bits.

STANDARDS