Graph Paper Programming
Students use computational thinking skills and global competencies to create a series of instructions describing how to draw a graph paper design.
Students use the following computational thinking skills and global competencies to create a series of instructions describing how to draw a graph paper design:
- Decomposition: breaking down a problem into smaller parts or sub-problems.
- Abstraction: reducing the complexity of a problem or task by focusing on what is important.
- Pattern recognition: being able to recognize and use patterns to describe and represent sequences in data or processes.
- Algorithmic thinking: creating a series of ordered, logical, and unambiguous rules or instructions necessary to solve a problem or achieve an objective.
- Debugging: finding and correcting bugs such as syntax errors (e.g., spelling mistakes), logic errors (e.g., incorrect logic), and other types of errors.
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Collaboration.
- Communication.
What You Need
Materials Needed:
Per group of 2 students:
- 1 grid design handout
- 1 graph paper programming commands sheet
- 1 sheet blank graph paper
- 2 pencils
All relevant and necessary worksheets can be found in the following Google Drive folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17vEGnaBTvDGt1pKlNNwEdqi_tW06S5J0
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe outreach to youth.
What To Do
Procedure:
- Choose a grid design from the grid design handout.
- Partner 1 gives instructions to draw the grid design using the graph paper programming commands provided. Record the instructions you give using the symbols provided.
- Partner 2 follows the instructions to draw the grid design.
- Once your program is written, switch roles. Can Partner 1 draw the same grid design using the program you created? If not, what part of your program needs to be debugged?
To debrief, discuss the skills and competencies students used when completing this challenge:
- Did you break the problem down into smaller steps? Decomposition
- Did you reduce the complexity of the problem by focusing on what was important? Abstraction
- Did you look for patterns and/or identify repeated instructions in your program? Pattern recognition
- Did you create a list of ordered, logical steps to solve the problem? Could you create a list of those steps for others to follow? Algorithmic thinking
- Did you find and correct bugs in your program? Debugging
- Did you use critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills?
Discovery
Students use the following computational thinking skills and global competencies to create a series of instructions describing how to draw a graph paper design:
- Decomposition: breaking down a problem into smaller parts or sub-problems.
- Abstraction: reducing the complexity of a problem or task by focusing on what is important.
- Pattern recognition: being able to recognize and use patterns to describe and represent sequences in data or processes.
- Algorithmic thinking: creating a series of ordered, logical, and unambiguous rules or instructions necessary to solve a problem or achieve an objective.
- Debugging: finding and correcting bugs such as syntax errors (e.g., spelling mistakes), logic errors (e.g., incorrect logic), and other types of errors.
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Collaboration.
- Communication.
As technology advances, it is more important than ever for people to contribute to the digital world. Helping students develop computational thinking skills, like algorithmic thinking, critical thinking and debugging, better prepares them for the future.
Once students have completed their first challenge, you can choose to extend their learning by:
- using larger grids
- using more complex grid designs
- encouraging students to trade programs with other groups
- adding "functions" to make their program simpler
- using different colours and adding a command to switch colour
- creating a story to go along with their grid
All relevant and necessary worksheets can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17vEGnaBTvDGt1pKlNNwEdqi_tW06S5J0
Graph Paper Programming, from code.org:
https://code.org/curriculum/course2/1/Teacher
What's Happening?
Students use the following computational thinking skills and global competencies to create a series of instructions describing how to draw a graph paper design:
- Decomposition: breaking down a problem into smaller parts or sub-problems.
- Abstraction: reducing the complexity of a problem or task by focusing on what is important.
- Pattern recognition: being able to recognize and use patterns to describe and represent sequences in data or processes.
- Algorithmic thinking: creating a series of ordered, logical, and unambiguous rules or instructions necessary to solve a problem or achieve an objective.
- Debugging: finding and correcting bugs such as syntax errors (e.g., spelling mistakes), logic errors (e.g., incorrect logic), and other types of errors.
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Collaboration.
- Communication.
Why Does it Matter?
As technology advances, it is more important than ever for people to contribute to the digital world. Helping students develop computational thinking skills, like algorithmic thinking, critical thinking and debugging, better prepares them for the future.
Investigate Further
Once students have completed their first challenge, you can choose to extend their learning by:
- using larger grids
- using more complex grid designs
- encouraging students to trade programs with other groups
- adding "functions" to make their program simpler
- using different colours and adding a command to switch colour
- creating a story to go along with their grid
Resources
All relevant and necessary worksheets can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17vEGnaBTvDGt1pKlNNwEdqi_tW06S5J0
Graph Paper Programming, from code.org:
https://code.org/curriculum/course2/1/Teacher