How it works
A pen block draws a line as the sprite moves. Pen down means draw, and pen up means move with no line.
A shape is move and turn, repeated. A repeat block draws all the sides with just a few blocks.
A square corner is 90 degrees, and a full spin is 360 degrees. Four turns of 90 degrees make one full spin.
The turns of a closed shape add up to 360 degrees. When the turns make a full spin, the line closes.
Worked examples
A square
- The stack says repeat 4 times: move 100 steps, then turn 90 degrees.
- Four turns of 90 degrees: 4 × 90 = 360.
- That is a full spin, so the last line meets the first and the square closes.
A gap
- Noor's first stack turns 80 degrees at each corner.
- Four turns of 80 degrees: 4 × 80 = 320.
- 320 is less than a full spin of 360, so there is a gap.
- The mix-up to fix: change 80 to 90.
A triangle
- Repeat 3 times: move 100 steps, then turn 120 degrees.
- Three turns of 120 degrees: 3 × 120 = 360.
- A full spin, so the shape closes with three sides.
A hexagon
- Repeat 6 times: move 100 steps, then turn 60 degrees.
- Six turns of 60 degrees: 6 × 60 = 360.
- A full spin, so the shape closes with six sides.
A taste of the worksheets
These are some of the questions on the sets. The printable sheets have more and an answer key.
- Noor wants to move her pencil to a new spot without drawing a line. Which block goes first? ✏️ pen down / 🔁 repeat 4 times / ✋ pen up
- Noor's hexagon has 6 turns of 60 degrees. How many degrees do the turns add up to? 300 / 420 / 360
- Which turn, three times, draws a triangle? ✏️ pen down / 📐 a turn of ninety degrees / 🔺 a turn of one hundred twenty degrees
- Which turn, four times, closes a square? 🔺 a turn of one hundred twenty degrees / 🍯 a turn of sixty degrees / 📐 a turn of ninety degrees
- True or false? 🚫 True or false? Pen up draws a line.
Words to know
- sprite
- A character you move with blocks. Noor's was a little pencil.
- pen down
- A block that makes the sprite draw a line as it moves.
- degrees
- A way to measure a turn. A square corner is 90 degrees.
- repeat block
- Does the blocks inside it again and again.
Watch out for
- A turn that is too small, such as 80 degrees, leaves a gap, and the corners look too pointy.
- Pen up draws no line. Put pen down before the sprite moves if you want a line.
- The number of times to repeat is the number of sides: 3 for a triangle, 4 for a square, 6 for a hexagon.
- A closed shape's turns always add up to 360 degrees.
Try it
Does pen up draw a line as the pencil moves?
No. Pen up moves the pencil with no line.
How many degrees is a full spin?
360. A full spin is three hundred sixty degrees.
A square turns 90 degrees at each of 4 corners. How many degrees is that in all?
360. 4 × 90 = 360.
Which closes a square: turning 80 degrees four times, or turning 90 degrees four times?
Turning 90 degrees four times. Four turns of 80 add up to only 320, which leaves a gap.
A triangle uses 3 turns of 120 degrees. What do they add up to?
360. 3 × 120 = 360, a full spin.
For grown-ups
Walk a square on the floor: take four steps, turn a quarter turn, and repeat four times. Then try turning a smaller turn and see where you end up. Count the turns: four quarter turns make one full spin.
Do the Mission: mark a square on the floor with chalk or string and walk it together: four steps, a quarter turn, and repeat four times. Then try a smaller turn and see where you end up.