Worked example · Expressive Arts · Year 1

Following a dance with arrow cards

DCF: Data and computational thinking → Problem-solving and modelling

Also assessed, LNF: Numeracy → Geometry and measurement → Position

What this is

A finished activity page from a secure Year 1 pupil (pupil marks in blue), with notes on what to look for. It is also the answer key. Task 1 stops on the sun. Task 2 stops on the drum after 4 steps. Task 3: above the drum is the sun, below the drum is the sheep, next to the harp is the drum. Task 4: Gwen’s third arrow is wrong; it should point up. Task 5 has many right answers, for example right, right, right to the dragon or right, right, up to the sheep.

1Follow. Circle where you stop.

The path moves one square for each arrow and turns at the castle. The pupil circled the sun. Evidences “I can follow arrows one step at a time” (DCF: following instructions in order).

2Follow. Circle where you stop. Count the steps.

Steps: 4

The pupil stopped on the drum and wrote 4, one step for each arrow. Numeracy (position): this shows the pupil can explore movements and directions and record the result.

3Where is it? Circle the picture.

above the

below the

next to the

All 3 correct. Numeracy (position): the pupil can describe position using above, below and next to. A common slip is circling the castle for “above the drum”: the castle is above the empty square, not the drum. Ask the pupil to put a finger on the drum and move it up one square.

4Gwen wants to stop on the . Cross out the wrong arrow. Draw the right one.

Trace: debug

The pupil tried Gwen’s dance, saw it stops on the sheep, crossed out the third arrow and drew an up arrow under it. Evidences “I can find the wrong arrow and fix it” (DCF: identifying errors in an algorithm).

5Make a dance. Start on the . Stop on the or the .

My arrows:

Finishing move: clap (coloured in)

The pupil made up, right, right to the sheep, a different route from the one in Task 2, and left the spare boxes empty. Their partner followed it and stopped on the sheep. Evidences “I can make a dance for a partner to follow” (DCF: giving instructions to others).

What to look for

	Secure	Working towards
Following instructions (DCF)	Moves one square per arrow in Tasks 1 and 2 and stops on the right picture.	Moves two squares for one arrow, or follows the arrows in the wrong order. Ask them to touch each square and say “one arrow, one step”.
Finding the mistake (DCF)	Crosses out only the third arrow in Task 4 and draws an up arrow.	Crosses out every arrow, or redraws the whole dance. Ask: “Which arrows still work?”
Making instructions (DCF)	Task 5 arrows really reach the dragon or the sheep when you follow them.	Arrows go off the dance floor or stop one square short.
Position (numeracy)	Task 2 shows 4 steps; all 3 pictures in Task 3 are right; can say “The drum is next to the harp”.	Mixes up above and below. Show it with two hands, one above the other.