Cover lesson · Mathematics and Numeracy · Year 1 · Beginner
DCF: Data and computational thinking → Problem-solving and modelling
What this practises: following, writing and debugging a simple algorithm with arrow cards, all on paper. Pupils guide Seren, a robot sheep, across a farm grid one square per arrow. They also count the squares she moves and describe where she is with position words (next to, under, on), which is numeracy work on position that you can mark from the sheet.
Print: the teacher script and activity sheet (this file), the activity pages one per pupil. Print the stimulus sheet “Seren’s farm grid and arrow cards” once to show the class, or one between two if pupils will lay out cut arrow cards. No computers are needed. Black and white printing is fine.
Run: 5 min meet Seren · 8 min be the robot · 10 min follow together, Task 1 · 10 min write an algorithm, Task 2 · 10 min bug hunt, Task 3 · 10 min position words, Tasks 4 and 5 · 5 min share and test. Total 58 minutes.
Collect: the activity pages. Quick checks: Task 1, Seren stops at the hay; Task 2, 4 right arrows and 4 squares; Task 3, the 3rd arrow (left) is the bug and should point right; Task 4, next to, under, on; Task 5, the hay. Numeracy (position) evidence: Task 2 (moves recorded as arrows with the number of squares), Task 4 and Task 5 (position words chosen to describe where things are).
Seren is a robot sheep. She moves 1 square for each arrow card: up, down, left or right. Pupils follow arrows, write their own arrows, find a bug in a set of arrows, and use the words next to, under and on.
5 min Meet Seren
Say: “Today we are going to meet Seren. Seren is a robot sheep who lives on a farm in Wales. A robot can only do exactly what we tell it, one step at a time. A list of steps for a robot is called an algorithm.”
Show: the farm grid on the stimulus sheet, or copy the 5 by 4 grid onto the board. Point to Seren in the bottom left square.
Ask: “What can you see on the farm? Which things are next to each other?”
8 min Be the robot
Say: “Seren understands 4 arrows. Each arrow moves her 1 square. Up, down, left, right. She never moves 2 squares for 1 arrow.”
Show: draw the 4 arrows on the board. Pupils stand behind their chairs. Point to an arrow; pupils take 1 step: up arrow means 1 step forwards, down means 1 step back, left and right mean 1 step sideways. Pupils do not turn round. Give 6 to 8 arrows, then 2 arrows at once.
Ask: “I showed 2 arrows. How many steps did you take?”
10 min Follow the arrows (Task 1)
Say: “Put your finger on Seren. Move 1 square for each arrow. Say the arrow out loud as you move.”
Show: on the board grid, try right, then up together. Then hand out the pupil page and read Task 1 aloud.
Ask: “Where did Seren stop? What is she next to now?”
Pupils: follow the 4 arrows in Task 1 and circle where Seren stops.
10 min Write an algorithm (Task 2)
Say: “Now you are the programmer. Draw the arrows that take Seren to the gate. You do not have to use every box. Then count the squares she moves and write the number.”
Pupils: draw arrows in the boxes, count the squares and write the number. In pairs, one pupil reads the arrows and the other moves a finger on the grid to test them.
10 min Bug hunt (Task 3)
Say: “A mistake in an algorithm is called a bug. Finding and fixing it is called debugging. These arrows should take Seren to the pond, but one arrow is wrong.”
Ask: “Where does Seren end up? Which arrow sent her the wrong way? Which arrow should it be?”
Pupils: test the arrows with a finger, circle the wrong arrow and draw the right arrow in the box.
10 min Position words (Tasks 4 and 5)
Say: “Let us say our position words together: next to, under, on.”
Show: hold a pencil on a book, under a book, then next to a book. Pupils say the word each time.
Pupils: circle the word for each picture in Task 4, then look at the farm and circle what the pond is next to in Task 5.
5 min Share and test
Say: “Swap sheets with a partner. Test their arrows for Task 2. Does Seren reach the gate?”
Ask: “What happens to a robot if one arrow is wrong?”
Ask: “Why do we test an algorithm?”
Name: Date:
1Follow the arrows. Circle where Seren stops.
2Draw the arrows to take Seren to the gate. Count the squares.
3Bug hunt! Seren wants the pond. Circle the wrong arrow. Draw the right arrow.
4Where is Seren? Circle the word.
5Look at the farm. The pond is next to the ... Circle it.
Finished? Find a different way to the pond. Draw the arrows on the back.