The big ideaPlan first: name the goal, split it into small parts, build one at a time.
How it works
Plan first. Name the goal in one sentence, so you know where you are going.
Split the goal into small parts, each small enough to finish today, and put them in order.
Build one part at a time, and check that each part works. Only one note sits in doing.
Extra ideas wait for version two. Version one is the smallest game that works, and nothing is lost.
Version one, or a later pile.
Example 1: Mina's goal
Mina builds everything at once, and by Thursday nothing works.
Mr. Reyes asks for the goal in one sentence.
She writes Catch the falling stars before they land on a single note.
Example 2: Small parts
Mina writes four small notes: move the ship, drop a star, catch it, count it.
Teo helps put them in order, in three columns called to do, doing and done.
Only one note can sit in doing.
Example 3: One at a time
Mina builds just the moving ship.
It slides left and right and it works, so its note moves across into done.
Then she builds the next part.
Example 4: A later pile
Ten levels and music will not fit that week.
They go on a later pile for version two.
Good ideas simply wait their turn, so nothing gets lost.
Words to know
goal
What your project does, said in one sentence.
version one
The smallest game that works.
to do, doing, done
Three columns that show where each small part is.
Watch out
Do not start typing with no goal. A goal shows where to go.
Building everything at once gets tangled.
Do not wait until the very end to check. Check each part as it is built.
Do not put every idea in version one.
Try it
What is the first step of a plan?
How many notes can sit in the doing column?
Music and ten levels will not fit this week. Where do they go?
Mina's ship works. Which column does its note move to?
Which belongs in version one: the ship moves, or music?
Answers: 1. Name the goal in one sentence · 2. One · 3. On a later pile · 4. Done · 5. The ship moves
Try at homePick something to make, like a card, a snack or a model. With a grown-up, write the goal in one sentence on a note. Then write three or four small parts on more notes, put them in order, and do one at a time. Move each note to done.
For grown-upsPlan a real project together: write the goal on one sticky note, then three or four small parts on more notes, and move each note to done as you finish it.
Open these notes on screenScan the code, or go to tutorpip.com.