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ECT Lesson Plan: Algorithmic Thinking
Lesson plan at a glance...
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In this lesson plan… |
Students will explore algorithm design by creating oral algorithms, giving instructions for other students to follow to duplicate a model supplied by the teacher. Student-student interaction will foster community and help them analyze the effectiveness of their algorithms.
Before students come to class: Using bricks, cards, tangrams or anything that can be arranged, create simple models to copy using the items; one for every four students. |
10 to 20 minutes |
10 minutes |
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20 minutes |
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5 minutes |
Activity Overview: In this activity, students will identify the key concepts in algorithm design.
Activity: Discussion: Students respond to the following prompt in small or large groups: Think about brushing your teeth. What steps do you go through each time you brush? How would you give step-by-step instructions to someone about how to brush their teeth? |
Activity Overview: In this activity, students will use algorithm design to create an ordered series of instructions for solving a problem, and other students will follow the algorithm. Student-student interactions help them build peer-support networks and that foster a student-centered learning community.
Notes to the Teacher: Refer to the the previously built models for this activity. |
Activity:
Q1: What type of instructions worked best? Q2: Why is this type of activity representative of humans working with computers? |
Assessment: A1: Simple, step-by-step, specific instructions. A2: Computers can only understand the exact instructions they have been given, even if the instructions are flawed. |
Activity Overview: In this activity, students will discuss the outcomes of the previous activities.
Activity: Start by introducing the term “algorithm” and giving the definition (see Lesson Vocabulary below). Discussion: Encourage your students to have a discussion about the previous activities. |
Learning Objectives |
Standards |
LO1: Students will be able to write a series of instructions for creating a model. |
Common Core CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4: Model with mathematics. Computer Science AUSTRALIA 8.11 (Collaborating and managing): Plan and manage projects, including tasks, time and other resources required, considering safety and sustainability. CSTA L1:6.CPP.5: Construct a program as a set of step-by-step instructions to be acted out (e.g., make peanut butter and jelly sandwich activity). CSTA L2.CL.3: Collaborate with peers, experts and others using collaborative practices such as pair programming, working in project teams and participating in-group active learning activities. UK 2.1: CS design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. |
LO2: Students will be able to articulate some important strategies and possible pitfalls in writing algorithms. |
Common Core CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP3: Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Computer Science CSTA L2.CT.7: Represent data in a variety of ways including text, sounds, pictures and numbers. UK 3.6: Understand how instructions are stored and executed within a computer system; understand how data of various types (including text, sounds and pictures) can be represented and manipulated digitally, in the form of binary digits. |
Term |
Definition |
For Additional Information |
Algorithm |
A series of instructions that can be repeated over and over with the same result for a given input (e.g. recipe, computer software, sheet of music notes) |
Concept |
Definition |
|
Algorithm Design |
Creating an ordered series of instructions for solving similar problems |
Contact info |
For more info about Exploring Computational Thinking (ECT), visit the ECT website (g.co/exploringCT) |
Credits |
Developed by the Exploring Computational Thinking team at Google and reviewed by K-12 educators from around the world. |
Last updated on |
07/02/2015 |
Copyright info |
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. |
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