Let's Build an Algorithm Based on Ten Apples Up on Top

Apples Up on Top is a wonderfully fun fall book. I thought your children would have fun creating an algorithm based on the book. They will also be able to work on counting from one to ten as the connect the apple filled boxes in number order.

What is an algorithm? I tell my students that an algorithm is the series of steps needed to complete a task. Computer programmers or coders create the series of commands needed for a computer to complete a task.

Before you get started you will want to read your children the book Ten Apples Up on Top. Below you will find a hardcover version, a board book version and a collection of books that includes Ten Apples Up on Top.

Getting the Algorithm Based on Ten Apple Up on Top Worksheet

You can download the Counting Apples to Ten Algorithm Coding Worksheet and open it up with Acrobat Reader. It was designed to be printed out by a black and white printer.

Exploring the Algorithm Worksheet

Your children will start by placing an up arrow in the box found in the bottom left-hand corner of the worksheet.
Then they will need to decide whether to move up or go to the right to get to the box that contains one apple. Since there are five apples in the box on the right, moving up is the right way to go.
Your children will place an up arrow in the box between the start box and the one apple box.
Next, they will place an arrow pointing up into the box that contains the one apple.
An up arrow will go in the box between the one and two apple boxes.
The two apple box will need to have an arrow pointing to the right in it. They will need to move from the two apple box to the three apple box just to the right of it.
Almost all the boxes in the second column will all need to have down arrows based on them. The box at the bottom of the column will need an arrow pointing to the right in it.
All the boxes in the third column except the top box will need to have arrows pointing up placed in them. The top box will need an arrow point to the right.
The first four boxes in the last column will all need an arrow pointing down in them.

When your children have finished connecting the numbers with arrows, they can trace the path their algorithm travels.