Lesson 2: Tinkering with MakeCode
Tinkering and identifying blocks in MakeCode.
Learning objective
To explore the block code features of MakeCode.
Success criteria
I can identify different blocks in MakeCode.
I can describe what coding blocks do.
I can create a sequence of instructions.
Before the lesson
Watch
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Watch
- 1287 views
Lesson plan
Display the Presentation: What do you remember? and arrange the children into pairs.
Display the Presentation: What do you remember? and arrange the children into pairs.
Presentation: What do you remember?
Allow time for paired discussion before inviting the children to share their ideas.
The children may recall:
Block coding uses blocks to create a sequence of instructions for a computer.
Blocks can make something move forward, left or right.
Blocks are dragged and dropped.
The order of the blocks is important so that the program works.
Display the Presentation: Action cards.
Display the Presentation: Action cards.
Presentation: Action cards
Make presentation full-screen
Invite a child to come up and select a card, then drag it to the sequencing area of the screen.
Repeat, asking different children to select and add a card to the sequence each time. Encourage them to consider the order and how each action affects the next; for example, sitting down and jumping might be tricky.
Review the commands with the children and perform the actions together as a class once the sequence is complete. Repeat to create a new sequence if time allows.
Point out that following the commands in the sequence is similar to programming a computer or device as it involves giving instructions to make the computer perform specific tasks.
- How well did the sequence work?
- Were there any actions in a place where they did not make sense?
Watch the Pupil video: Introduction to MakeCode.
Arrange the children into pairs and ask each child to show their partner one thing they created or discovered in MakeCode. Encourage them to explain what the blocks they used do and how they fit together.
Ask a few pairs to share what they discussed with the class.
Highlight any interesting findings or creative uses of blocks. Reinforce the idea that by creating a sequence of instructions in MakeCode, they made an algorithm and used the skill of algorithm design just like a programmer. Inform the children that by noticing and using repeated blocks, they practised the skill of pattern recognition, which helped them understand how to create better sequences in their programs (e.g. using a block more than once).
In this unit
Assessment – Computing Y2: MakeCode
Lesson 1: Tinkering with code
- Current lesson
Lesson 2: Tinkering with MakeCode
Lesson 3: What does the code mean?
Lesson 4: Building a program
Lesson 5: Evaluating a program
