Offline Coding Academy -Printable Shark Algorithm Game Boards

Printable shark algorithm game boards are a great way to introduce your children to coding. Coding is simply creating a series of steps that will help complete a task. These game boards invite children to connect the beginning of the game board to the end. Arrows children place in the squares connecting the beginning to the end will create the algorithm.

Shark pictures have been placed in some of the blocks. The arrows will need to point in the direction needed to leave the box and move to the next box that doesn’t contain a shark. While there is more than one way to complete each gameboard, some routes are more direct than others. When a coder is creating an algorithm, they try to use the fewest steps possible. Some children may try to find the shortest route with the fewest twists and turns. Some children will try to come up with the most creative route. It will be fun to see what your children choose to do.

Before Building an Algorithm Read a Book

Your children may not have a lot of experience with coding and how it is used. Before you have them start any of the algorithm game boards, you may want to read them a book about coding. You will find several children’s books about coding below.

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Getting the Algorithm Game Boards Ready

The Shark Algorithm Game Boards are available to download in a PDF format. You will need to have a program like Acrobat Reader available to open them up. While the game board feature color graphics. You can print them out in black and white. (You will notice that is what we have done.)

Hint: If you plan on using them over and over again, you will want to print them out on card stock and laminate them. They will last longer that way.

There are two ways for your children to build algorithms on the game boards. The first is drawing arrows in the boxes. The second is using the arrows that come with the game board set. If you choose to use the printable arrows, you will want to print them on card stock and laminate them.

Working on the Algorithm Game Boards

There are a number of ways your children can work on building algorithms. The first thing they will need to do is figure out what path they will use to connect the word Start to the word Finish.
Before you have them work on their own, you will want to walk them through creating the first few steps.
They will need to decide which way to go to leave the Start box. Then they will draw or place an arrow pointing the direction they will need to go to leave the box. Next, they will decide what direction they will need to go to move from that box to the next. They will continue to build their path with arrows until they reach the word End.
Some children may need to build a full algorithm path with you or a partner before they work on their own.
When they have completed their algorithm, please have them tell you what it is. You may also want them to tell you why they chose the path they did.