Duration: 45 minutes
SPIRIT Skills:
- Creativity
- Problem-Solving
Brief Description:
Students return to the classroom and individually or in pairs draw the route they followed. They add commands (arrows, symbols, numbers). The teacher introduces simple algorithm ideas such as steps in order (sequence), repeating steps (repetition), and fixing mistakes (debugging) using drawings and symbols. Students test their “programs” by acting them out again. This stage helps students connect their physical experience from the outdoor game with visual and symbolic representations.
How does this develop particular SPIRIT skills:
- Creativity: designing personal route plans and “programs”
- Problem-Solving: identifying and fixing mistakes.
What do we want to achieve regarding SPIRIT skill development (student understanding and/or behaviour)?
Through this activity, students will develop problem-solving skills by:
- Recording simple algorithms: Translating actions into clear, step-by-step instructions.
- Debugging and redesigning steps: Identifying mistakes and revising their plans to overcome obstacles.
- Applying creative solutions: Thinking flexibly and inventively to solve unexpected challenges during the activity
This progression ensures that students follow through from planning to testing to improving, reinforcing structured problem-solving strategies.
Academic/Curriculum Objective connection
- Math: Sequences, counting steps
- Visual Arts: Drawing paths, using symbols
- Digital Culture: Recognizing algorithmic structures
Materials and tools needed for implementation
- Paper, coloured pencils, direction arrows
- Instruction templates
- Visual aids for inspiration
Preparation notes
- Show an example of a simple drawn “program”
- Assist with using symbols (e.g., → = move forward)
Guided Questions
- How would you draw your program?
- What happens if the robot gets lost?
- Which command would you change and why?
Stage Debriefing Questions (Optional)
- What did you like about your own program?
- How did you solve it when something didn’t work?
Tips and Tricks for dealing with stage challenges
- Don’t aim for perfection: encourage learning from mistakes
- Provide templates to help students who need more support.