The big ideaA program is tiny, clear steps in the right order.
How it works
Bo cannot guess a step that is missing. He does exactly what he hears.
When Tess said, put the jam on the bread, Bo put on the whole jar!
A clear step says exactly what to do, in a tiny piece. Clear steps in the right order make a program.
Making a jam sandwich.
Example 1: Too big
Tess says, make lunch.
Bo does not know where to begin.
Make lunch is too big a step. Bo needs tiny steps.
Example 2: Not clear
Tess says, do the jam bit.
Bo cannot guess what that means.
Say exactly what Bo should do: spread jam on one slice.
Example 3: Tiny and clear
Wash your hands.
Lay out two slices of bread. Spread jam on one slice.
Put the other slice on top. Cut it in half and eat.
Example 4: A coat program
Tell a grown-up robot how to put on a coat.
Hold the coat, put one arm in, put the other arm in, pull it up.
The robot does only what you say, so be exact.
Words to know
clear
Says exactly what to do.
tiny step
One small thing to do.
program
Tiny, clear steps in order.
robot
A machine that does just what it is told.
Watch out
Bo is not being silly when something goes wrong. He did exactly what he heard.
If a step is missing, Bo cannot guess it.
A big step like make lunch needs breaking into tiny steps.
The order matters: wash hands first, and the bread before the jam.
Try it
What is the first step in the sandwich program?
Which is a tiny, clear step: make lunch or spread jam on one slice?
Tess said put the jam on the bread, and Bo put on the whole jar. Was Bo being silly?
Can Bo guess a missing step?
Answers: 1. wash your hands · 2. spread jam on one slice · 3. no · 4. no
Try at homeBe the programmer! Tell a grown-up robot how to put on a coat, step by step. The robot does only what you say, so be exact: hold the coat, put one arm in, put the other arm in, pull it up. Laugh if it goes silly, then swap.
For grown-upsBe the programmer: tell a grown-up robot how to put on a coat, one tiny step at a time, and laugh when the robot does exactly what you say. Then swap.
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