dcf.cymru stimulus sheet · Health and Well-being · Year 5
Cai’s school morning algorithm
Cai, his algorithm and the times on this sheet are invented for practice. The tooth brushing and hand washing advice is from the NHS.
1. The problem
Cai is in Year 5 and lives in Cardigan. He keeps missing the school bus, and he often arrives at school hungry and in a rush. His teacher asked the class to write an algorithm (a set of instructions in order) for a healthy school morning. Cai wrote the one below, but it has bugs (mistakes that make the instructions go wrong).
2. Cai’s algorithm (with bugs)
1. START: the alarm rings at 07:00. Get out of bed.
2. Put on shoes and coat.
3. Go to the toilet, then wash hands and face.
4. Get dressed in school uniform and socks.
5. Watch videos on the tablet for 30 minutes.
6. Eat breakfast.
7. Brush teeth for 2 seconds.
8. Walk to the bus stop.
9. Put a book in the bag. Put a book in the bag. Put a book in the bag. Put a book in the bag.
10. Fill water bottle.
11. END.
3. Timing card: how long each job takes Cai
| Job | Time it takes |
|---|
| Go to the toilet, then wash hands and face | 5 minutes |
| Get dressed in school uniform and socks | 10 minutes |
| Watch videos on the tablet | as long as the step says |
| Eat breakfast | 15 minutes |
| Brush teeth | 2 minutes |
| Put a book in the bag | 1 minute for each book (Cai needs 4 books) |
| Fill water bottle | 2 minutes |
| Put on shoes and coat | 4 minutes |
| Walk to the bus stop | 7 minutes |
The school bus leaves Cai’s bus stop at 08:10. It does not wait.
4. Health facts to help you
- The NHS says to brush your teeth twice a day for about 2 minutes each time.
- The NHS says to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Breakfast gives you energy for the morning, and it is easier to eat well when you are not rushing.
5. Coding words
- Algorithm: a set of instructions in the right order to do a job.
- Bug: a mistake in an algorithm.
- Debug: find and fix the mistakes.
- Loop: an instruction to repeat steps, for example Repeat 3 times: clap your hands. A loop makes an algorithm shorter.