1. Subjects >
  2. Computing >
  3. Key stage 1 >
  4. Year 2 >
  5. Computing Programming 1 >
  6. Programming 1: Algorithms and debugging >
  7. Lesson 5: Dance mistakes

Learning objective

  • To debug algorithms by spotting and correcting errors.

Success criteria

  • I can describe what debugging is.
  • I can spot
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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

Explain that the children will talk with a partner about the statement on the slide and give a reason for their answer. Show the Presentation: Explain the answer and read the statement aloud. Arrange the children in pairs and allow time for discussion.

Learning objective

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Extended-mode explainer videos

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Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing support:

  • Could use the Resource: Broken robot (support), which shows the bugs in a grey box, so they can focus on how to fix them.
  • Should use the Activity: Dance bugs (support) to practise spotting and correcting errors in a structured example (it has an example dance routine for the children to add a bug to and a bottom section to cut off to help a partner identify where a bug has been introduced).
  • Could watch an adult model a dance algorithm with a deliberate bug to support identifying missing, incorrect or out-of-order commands.
  • Could watch another pair complete the dance bugs activity first to give them ideas.

Pupils working at greater depth:

  • Should create algorithms that include different types of bugs and explain why they cause the algorithm to fail.
  • Should explain in detail why an algorithm does not work by identifying where the sequence breaks.
  • Should propose the most effective fix by making the smallest change and explaining why it works.
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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with a secure understanding can:

  • Describe the process of debugging.
  • Spot bugs and
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Vocabulary definitions

  • bug

    An error that stops an algorithm from working correctly.

  • debugging

    Finding and fixing bugs in an algorithm.

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In this unit

Assessment – Computing Y2: Algorithms and debugging

Lesson 1: Dance algorithms

Lesson 2: Treasure algorithms

Lesson 3: Coding puzzles

Lesson 4: Coding challenges

Lesson 5: Dance mistakes

Created by:

Kapow Primary’s Computing Team

Computing specialist

Find out more

Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 27th April, 2026

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Lesson 4: Coding challenges Previous Lesson
Lesson 5: Dance mistakes Next Lesson

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