Offline Coding Academy- Muffin Tin Algorithm Activity

Your children can create an algorithm that will move an object on a path that takes them from one end of a muffin tin to another. Once the activity components have been gathered and made, they can explore this algorithm activity over and over again.

Wait! What is an algorithm?

A simple definition is that an algorithm is a 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. Your children complete algorithms or a series of steps to complete tasks every day like brushing their teeth.

Example:

• First, you will need to wet your toothbrush.
• Second, you will place toothpaste on your toothbrush.
• Third, you will use a circular motion to move the toothbrush on all sides of your teeth.
• Fourth, you will then use a side to side motion on all your teeth.
• Fifth, you will swish water in your mouth to rinse your teeth.
• Sixth, you will spit out the water into the sink.

Getting the Algorithm Activity Ready

Supplies Needed:

• Muffin Tin
• Small Plastic Cup ( The bottom of the cup should be the same size as the bottom of the muffin tin cups.)
• White Paper
• Pencil
• Marker
• Plastic Animal or Button

Creating the Algorithm Activity Circles

1. You will need to trace the bottom of a small plastic cup twelve times onto a piece of paper.
2. Next, you will cut out each of the circles.
3. Finally, you will draw an arrow on each of the circles.

Exploring the Algorithm Activity

The activity starts with deciding where your children want to start and end the algorithm. Then they will create a path of arrows that will lead them from the beginning of their path to the end. Each of the arrows they place will point in the direction they are moving to the next muffin cup.

Let’s look at the path I made.

It starts in the upper lefthand corner with an arrow pointing down.
An arrow pointing down is placed on the muffin cup below it.
The third cup down was given an arrow pointing to the right.

What does that mean?

The character or button would move down two cups and then one cup to the right.

Let’s continue.

The cup just to the right of that cup has an arrow pointing up.
The cup right above it has an arrow pointing up.
An arrow pointing to the right was placed on the cup at the top of the second column.
In the third column after the three down arrows were placed, a left arrow was put in place.
Finally, an arrow pointing the left was placed in front of the left arrow in the corner.

Your children can try building the algorithm one step at a time and testing out each move. Another way could be that they build the full path and then test it out.

More Coding Activities

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