Unplugged Lesson
Beginner
30 mins
Teacher led
What you need:
Printer
Interactive Display

First in Line: What Comes Next?

In this lesson, you'll explore the concept of sequencing through 'first/then' statements, a fundamental skill in coding. You'll learn about 'Bossy Words', play 'Simon Says', discuss instructions, and complete a 'First/Then' worksheet. You'll also engage in activities involving slideshows and a 'First/Then Cut and Stick Activity' to reinforce your understanding.
Learning Goals Learning Outcomes

Live Class Feed

This is a live feed of the latest activity by your students on this lesson. It will update in real-time as they work on the lesson.
Load previous activity

    1 - Introduction

    Today, you'll be guiding your students through a series of fun and engaging activities designed to help them understand the concept of sequencing everyday activities using 'first/then' statements. This is a fundamental skill in coding, as it lays the foundation for understanding the logical order of coding instructions in future lessons.

    The format of this lesson is:

    1. Discuss the concept of 'Bossy Words'
    2. Play the game 'Simon Says'
    3. Engage students in a discussion about instructions
    4. Do the 'First/Then' worksheet activity

    2 - What is a Bossy Word?

    Explain to the students that 'Bossy Words' are words that tell us to do something. They are like instructions. For example, when we say 'sit', we are telling someone to sit down. This is a bossy word because it is giving a command or instruction.

    Can your students think of any instructions or commands that they receive in school or at home?

    3 - Bossy Word Slideshow

    Next tell your students that you will be looking at some Bossy Words together. Show the students the below slides and for each slide:

    1. Asks your students what they think the bossy word is?
    2. Read out the bossy word to the class.
    3. Ask your students if they can think of any examples of using that bossy word? For example "Sit down on your chair."


    4 - Understanding Instructions

    Next engage your students in a discussion about instructions. Ask them, "Who are the people who usually give us instructions?". Expect responses like parents, teachers, and coaches. This will help them relate the concept of instructions to their daily life.

    Explain the importance of instructions. You can say, "Instructions help us learn new things and help us understand how to do things."

    Ask the students if they can share some examples of instructions or commands they follow at home or in school. Examples could be "Raise your hand before speaking", "Put on your coat before going outside", or "Sit on your chair properly".

    Encourage students to share their examples and discuss why these instructions are important.

    5 - Simon Says

    Introduce the game 'Simon Says' to the students. Explain that this game is about listening carefully to the bossy words and these are the rules:

    1. Only perform actions that begin with "Simon says"
    2. Ignore commands that don't start with "Simon says"

    Remind the students that they should only perform the action if the command starts with 'Simon says'. For example, if you say 'Simon says touch your nose', they should touch their nose. But if you just say 'Touch your nose' without 'Simon says' at the beginning, they should not do the action.

    Start the game with simple commands like 'Simon says touch your nose' or 'Simon says jump'. Gradually, you can introduce more complex commands like 'Simon says touch your toes and then jump' to reinforce the concept of 'first/then'.

    Observe the students as they play the game. Make sure they understand the importance of listening to and following instructions in the correct order. This will help them develop their ability to think sequentially and follow precise steps, which are crucial skills for coding.

    Unlock the Full Learning Experience

    Get ready to embark on an incredible learning journey! Get access to this lesson and hundreds more in our Digital Skills Curriculum.

    Copyright Notice
    This lesson is copyright of DigitalSkills.org. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.
    🍪 Our website uses cookies to make your browsing experience better. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more