Learning objective
- To explore algorithms through an unplugged activity.
Success criteria
- I can recall what commands and instructions are
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National curriculum
Computing
Pupils should be taught to:
- Understand
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Cross-curricular links
English
Spoken language
Pupils should
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Before starting this unit, check that the children can recall: Computers and robots follow commands and instructions exactly as humans give them. Instructions must be easy to follow, make sense, be in order and have all the right parts. Errors occur in instructions when commands are missing, incorrect or are in the wrong order.
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Extended-mode explainer videos
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Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac
Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows
Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing support:
- Could use the Resource: Dance actions (support) to select and sequence commands when creating their algorithm.
- Could watch the Pupil video: What is an algorithm? before the lesson in a ‘pre-teaching’ session.
- Could practise the dance actions with a partner before writing the algorithm to secure understanding of each command.
- Could have adapted physical actions where needed to enable full participation.
- Could have their algorithm re-read by a partner to check for missing or unclear commands.
Pupils working at greater depth:
- Should develop their dance algorithms using a wider range of self-created dance actions while keeping their sequence clear and logical.
- Should explain what error has occurred in an algorithm, why it occurred and how to fix it.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding can:
- Recall what commands and instructions are and
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Vocabulary definitions
-
algorithm
A set of commands that make a computer or robot do a job.
-
command
One instruction that tells a computer or robot what to do.
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In this unit
Lesson 5: Creating and performing a musical structure
Combining soundscapes and pitch patterns created in previous lessons to create and perform a longer...
Lesson 2: Computing commands
Understanding how clear, ordered commands control computers.
Lesson 1: Classroom robots
Exploring how to give clear instructions by role-playing as robots and programmers.
Lesson 2: Storytelling in Scratch
Programming an animation to complete a story.
