This is the fifth and final farm-themed printable STEM activity I am sharing with you this week. It is based on the book Rosie’s Walk. Rosie’s Walk was one of my sister Shel’s favorite books when she was little. My mom must have read it a million times. Your children may have asked for you to read it over and over again to them. If you have, it will help them as they learn to code.
What is an Algorithm
If your children ask what an algorithm is, you can tell them that is a series of steps needed to complete a task. Computer programmers create algorithms to walk a computer through the steps they need to go through to complete an action or task.
Getting Ready for the Learn to Code Activity
You will need to download the Hen Walking Algorithm Worksheet set. There is a black and white along with a color version of the Hen Walking Algorithm worksheet. Either of the worksheets would fine to use.
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You will also need to have a copy or two of the book Rosie’s Walkon hand. Your children can look back at the book to make sure they are connecting the landmarks in the right order.
Completing the Learn to Code Activity
First, children will start by drawing an arrow in the start box that is pointing in the direction they need to go to reach the pond. Next, they will place arrows pointing up in the boxes in between the hen and the pond.
Then they will decide which way they need to have the arrow pointing in the pond box to head to the haystack box. Encourage your children to place only one arrow in each box. There is really one way to the haystack to reach.
Next, they will need to decide the best way to get from the haystack to the windmill. There is more than one path that can be used. You can tell your children that computer programmers sometimes have more than one way they can write the code. They usually try to pick the most efficient path.
Children will continue connecting the landmarks until the end up in the barn box in the bottom right-hand corner.
Using Children’s Books to Learn to Code
Children’s books are great learn to code tools. They feature sequences of events or landmarks that children can connect in order to create an algorithm. Below you will find a list of some of the algorithm worksheets I have created favorite children’s books. You will also find links to my favorite books.
Little Miss Muffet Coding Activity and Printable
Coding Activity- Going on a Bear Hunt
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Algorithm Activity
If You Give a Pig a Pancake Coding Sheet
Coding for Kids- The Day It Rained Hearts
Brown Bear, Brown Bear Coding Printable
The Snowy Day Coding Printable
Life Cycle of a Spider Coding Activity
