L1 Lesson Plan Microbit Countdown
L1 Lesson Plan Microbit Countdown
Lesson 1
Learning objectives
Compare different inputs on the micro:bit
Define iteration
Modify a program with count-controlled iteration
Create a countdown program using count-controlled iteration
Key vocabulary
Iteration, efficiency, count-controlled iteration, loop
Preparation
Subject knowledge:
Pedagogy:
Assessment opportunities
Through activity 1 students will be able to demonstrate learning and
understanding through the comments added to the program code.
The worksheet allows activity notes to be made and observing learners in their
pairs will aid assessment of understanding.
Please note that the slide deck labels the activities in the top right-hand corner
to help you navigate the lesson.
Demonstrate how to move the comments to the side so that they are
near the block they are linked to. The sharing of code always places
the comments on top of the code.
The program will start when the A Button is pressed. The loop is
activated now and the number is displayed each time the loop
repeats the instructions inside it. The change variable block
defines how the variable is adjusted each time, in this instance it is
increased by 1.
Learners in KS2 will have used the terminology repetition, this slide
introduces the terminology iteration and that this is the same and
will be the keyword used moving forward.
Learners can use a for loop, which is the same as the repeat 10
times loop they have previously used. However, this type does not
need to have a variable set as it is built into the loop. Explain that
this also matches closer to programming with written lines of code, a
for loop would always be used as a repeat loop is not a line of code
that could be used in, for example Python.
Slide 11 – Show the video and ask learners what they notice about
this sport starter.
Slide 12 - This is the starter for the cycling at the velodrome. There
is a sound linked to the start time reducing so that the sport person
can hear the countdown and does not need to watch it.
Slide 13 – The for loop example showed the increase of time from 0
to 9. A countdown needs to reduce by 1 from 9 to 0. Explain that we
need to use a math block to make sure the calculation starts at 9.
The addition on the block means that the first iteration will calculate
9-0, the next iteration would be 9-1 and so on until it reaches 9-9.
Learners will need to download the code, connect the battery and
test the starter to see if it works as expected.
Activity 5 Plenary
(Slide 16)
Slide 16 - This task is designed to reinforce the key concepts from
5 mins this lesson looking at code being efficient. Ask learners to think, pair,
share their answer to the code to determine if they can articulate
their understanding of why the code on the right is efficient.
2 mins
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