Lesson 8: Loops with Laurel
Overview
In this lesson, students continue learning the concept of loops. Here, Laurel the Adventurer uses loops to collect treasure in open cave spaces. A new get treasure block is introduced to help her on her journey.
Purpose
This lesson gives students more practice with loops and encourages them to put multiple blocks inside of a repeat as they try to collect as much treasure as possible.
Agenda
Warm Up (10 min)
Online Foundation: Preview Loops in Collector
Main Activity (30 min)
Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
View on Code Studio
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Identify the benefits of using a loop structure instead of manual repetition.
- Break down a long sequence of instructions into the smallest repeatable sequence possible.
Preparation
- Play through the puzzles to find any potential problem areas for your class.
- (Optional) Pick a couple of puzzles to do as a group with your class.
- Review CS Fundamentals Main Activity Tips - Lesson Recommendations
- Make sure each student has a Think Spot Journal - Reflection Journal.
Vocabulary
- Loop - The action of doing something over and over again.
- Repeat - To do something again.
Support
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Teaching Guide
Warm Up (10 min)
Introduction
Quickly review the definition of a loop, the action of doing something over and over again.
- What are loops?
- Why do we use them?
Online Foundation: Preview Loops in Collector
To introduce Laurel the Collector, preview an online puzzle (or two) as a class.
Model: Reveal an entire online puzzle from the progression to come. We recommend Puzzle 8. Do students see any similarities to the last set of exercises that they did? What are the big differences? When should the get treasure block be used?
Work with your class to drag code into the workspace in such a way that Laurel (eventually) collects all of the treasure.
Transition: Students should now be ready to transition to computers to complete online puzzles on their own.
Main Activity (30 min)
Online Puzzles
Teacher Demonstration
We've included some multiple choice prediction levels that are difficult for non-readers. These levels are optional for you to review with your class to help prepare for the puzzles to come. Alternatively, these could be used after finishing the stage as a review for the class.
Prediction Levels:
As students work through the puzzles, see if they can figure out how many blocks they use with a loop vs. without a loop.
Wrap Up (5 - 10 min)
Journaling
Having students write about what they learned, why it’s useful, and how they feel about it can help solidify any knowledge they obtained today and build a review sheet for them to look to in the future.
Journal Prompts:
- What was today’s lesson about?
- Draw one of the Feeling Faces - Emotion Images that shows how you felt about today's lesson in the corner of your journal page.
- Draw a line of treasure that Laurel could collect.
- Draw something that uses loops.
- The Collector
- 1
Student Instructions
Free Play: Move Laurel around and get as much treasure as you can. Get at least one item with no mistakes to pass this level.
Drag blocks into the workspace and try to figure out how to get treasure.
Student Instructions
Move Laurel to the treasure, then use the get treasure block to pick it up.
Get all four piles to pass this level.
- Using the Repeat Block
- 4
Student Instructions
How can Laurel get all five piles of treasure using only one move east block?
Student Instructions
Fix Laurel's path to get all of this treasure!
Student Instructions
Add to the code from the last puzzle to get all of the treasure.
Student Instructions
Figure out the code to help Laurel get all of the treasure!
Student Instructions
Write the code to get all of this treasure.
- Challenge
- 10
Student Instructions
Challenge: The treasure goes all the way down these stairs! Write the code to help Laurel get it all.
Student Instructions
"Help me get the treasure from this deep valley."
Student Instructions
Help Laurel get all of the treasure from this cave.
Student Instructions
Eureka! Get as much treasure as you can!
Student Instructions
This time you have limited blocks. Get all of the treasure!
Student Instructions
"Let's get the treasure!"
Help Laurel get at least 5 pieces of treasure to finish this puzzle.
Standards Alignment
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CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017)
AP - Algorithms & Programming
- 1A-AP-09 - Model the way programs store and manipulate data by using numbers or other symbols to represent information.
- 1A-AP-10 - Develop programs with sequences and simple loops, to express ideas or address a problem.
- 1A-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) the steps needed to solve a problem into a precise sequence of instructions.
- 1A-AP-14 - Debug (identify and fix) errors in an algorithm or program that includes sequences and simple loops.