This week in Year 1, we put on our computer scientist hats and learned a big word: algorithm! We discovered that an algorithm is a set of instructions that a computer has to follow to do something. However, there’s a catch – the instructions have to be very specific and correct, or the computer could end up with a ‘computer bug’ (not the kind with wings and legs). A bug in the instructions can cause a computer error, which means things don’t work as they should!
To help us understand, we became robots for the day! We took turns following an algorithm to draw a picture. The first set of instructions were not very clear, so all our pictures ended up looking completely different! That’s when we realised we had a ‘bug’ in our algorithm…
We worked together to fix the bug by making our instructions clearer and more precise. When we followed the new algorithm, our drawings looked much better and more alike. It was a brilliant way to see how important it is to give clear, step-by-step instructions.
After, we had a go at programming our own robot: The Bee-Bot! We had so much fun creating algorithms to move around the room.
After learning that algorithms are step by step instructions, we practised this in our English lessons, where we looked at how to write instructions! We learned how to use bossy words (imperative verbs) like ‘draw,’ ‘stand,’ and ‘clap’ to make our instructions clear. We looked at bossy words whilst following dancing instructions in English and our PE lesson and had so much fun learning new moves and even making our own routines!
Well done Year 1 for being fantastic computer scientists! Great job. ☺️