Arrow Plan

Computer class scenario using the "Arrow Plan" application

Age group: primary school, grades 1-3

Duration of classes: 45 minutes

Achievements in line with the core curriculum for primary school, grades 1-3:

  • IT education: the student solves tasks, puzzles, and riddles leading to the discovery of algorithms; programs visually: simple situations or stories according to their own ideas and ideas developed together with other students, single commands, and their sequences controlling an object on the computer screen or another digital device; uses a computer or another digital device and external devices when performing a task; associates the operation of a computer or another digital device with the effects of working with software; cooperates with students, exchanges ideas and experiences with them, using technology.

General objectives:

  • developing analytical skills,
  • shaping spatial orientation,
  • stimulating planning and forecasting skills,
  • developing understanding of code structure and syntax.

Operational objectives, the student:

  • knows what directional arrows mean,
  • plans their actions, checks their effect,
  • solves logical puzzles,
  • cooperates in pairs or teams,
  • can program the route using verbal messages and symbols.

Course of classes

  1. Invite students to play "Hide and Seek". Hide an object in the room, and mark the way to it with arrows placed in different places in the room. Start by arranging arrows on the floor (use only this plane), then place arrows on different planes: on benches, chairs, on walls. Self-adhesive notes, on which students can draw arrows beforehand, will work great.

  2. Launch the "Arrow Mission" application on the selected device.

  3. Explain to the students that Dot Bot must reach the goal-plug to recharge its energy. The students' task will be to highlight the appropriate arrows on the mat, according to the direction of Dot Bot's movement.

  4. Choose a board size appropriate to the developmental capabilities of your students.

  5. Ask students to plan a route for Dot Bot. Tell them to think about where Dot Bot should go before they highlight the arrows on the board.

  6. You can divide students into groups or pairs so they can cooperate, exchange opinions, and jointly decide which route Dot Bot should take.