Unplugged Lesson
Beginner
40 mins
Teacher/Student led
Learning Goals
Learning Outcomes
+50 XP
What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Colouring Robot

In this lesson, you'll become a robot artist, learning how to follow specific instructions to create art. Using worksheets and coloured pencils, you'll practice sequencing by following step-by-step code cards to colour grids and debug mistakes.

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    1 - Introduction

    This lesson will help students learn the core coding concept of sequencing.

    They will learn that computers follow instructions in a specific order and that a single mistake (a "bug") can change the entire outcome.

    This is a hands-on, unplugged activity where students become the "robots" and you are the "programmer."

    Materials Needed:

    • Worksheet: A simple grid with squares (Downloadable from this step).

    • Coloured Pencils/Markers: A small set of three coloured pencils/markers.

    2 - Robots around us

    Begin the lesson by gathering students and having a quick discussion about robots to establish a foundation for the activity.

    Explain simply that a robot is a machine that follows instructions (or "bossy words"). A robot doesn't have a brain for guessing; it can only follow clear commands.

    Ask your students: "Have you ever seen a real-life robot? What does it do?"

    Guide the discussion toward common, familiar examples they might have seen at home or in the garden:

        • Robot Vacuum Cleaners: "What instructions does the vacuum robot need? (Go forward, turn, stop at the wall)."
        • Robot Lawn Mowers: "It needs commands like, 'Go straight,' and 'Turn around when you hit the fence.' "
        • Automatic Doors: "While simple, they follow an "if/then" command: IF a sensor sees a person, THEN open the door."

        3 - Robot Students

        Invite one student to the front of the class and explain that they are now to act like a robot and follow your commands exactly.

        Read a short list of instructions aloud such as step forward, step backward, clap, jump. (Check the teacher notes for this step for a list of ideas of commands).

        Ask the class to watch and see if the robot follows the order exactly.

        To assess the children's understanding of the importance of clear instructions, give the robot student an unclear command such as "sit".  This command is not indicating whether the robot should sit on the ground, table or chair, and therefore, unclear. 

        When the student robot has completed the command, ask the class if the command 'sit' could have been interpreted differently by the robot. Explain how this can be considered an unclear command and how it should have been phrased more clearly.

        You can repeat this step for multiple students in the class. Including further examples of unclear instructions such as directional movements/destinations within the room. 

        4 - Robot Artists Interactive Colour Coding Challenge

        Explain to the class that today they are going to turn into Robot Artists!

        Their task is to precisely copy a sequence of colours.

        Remind students that they must follow the sequence exactly! Precision is the key to all coding! 

        Open the Colour Coding Challenge below to generate a 5-square pattern using the colours red, blue and white. Inform students that this is a “target code” and this means that we must attempt to replicate this pattern ourselves using the buttons beneath the game.

        Before any attempts are made to replicate the code, the children should be invited to follow the pattern from left to right: point to square 1, say the colour, then move to the next square.

        Ask a volunteer to read the pattern, replicate it and run the sequence (e.g., “Red; Blue, White, etc…”).

        You can solve as many sequences as a class as you wish before inviting students up to solve themselves!

        5 - Robot Artists Concrete Colour Coding Challenge

        Now, we're going to demonstrate how the students will complete the colour coding process using concrete resources. Model the following activity to your class on your white board, emphasising that students must follow the sequence exactly.

        1. Display the first target pattern (from the generator below) on your board and model filling out the grid left-to-right on one of the downloadable 'Colour coding 5 grid' worksheets.

          Once the pattern is complete, explain: 'What we just followed is an algorithm—a precise, ordered set of steps used to achieve a specific outcome (our pattern).

        Now that you've modelled the process, it's time for the pupils to execute the algorithm on their own worksheets using the Code Pattern Generator below.

        Guide the class through the commands by presenting the patterns on the screen one at a time.

        • Quick Check: After each symbol is revealed and they've had time to process it, use a quick check to manage the flow:

          “Thumbs up when your box is done.”

        When the students have finished copying the patterns, ask everyone to put their pencils down for a quick Robot Check!

        Let's verify every single step. Look up at the target grid, then down at your paper, and check if they match left to right.

        If you spot a mistake, explain that we have found a bug and need to fix it. 

        The student will need to identify the bug and correct the error by changing it to the correct colour. When the bug has been fixed, check the sequence again to make sure it matches the grid.

        Code Pattern Slideshow

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