Teacher guide · Think Lab · Medium · about 32 min
🔁 Loop the Loop
Pupils practise problem solving through "Loop the Loop": Repeat code with loops.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🔁 mission title and read the opening: "'Repeat 4: move 1, turn right' draws a…". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Cog the Owl's line as your prompt: "Good thinking. Show me the why."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used problem solving today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Loop the Loop", and why?
- 'Repeat 4: move 1, turn right' draws a… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Why use a loop — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- 'Repeat 3: clap' makes how many claps — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use problem solving outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: Computing: algorithms, debugging and online safety
- National Curriculum: Maths: reasoning mathematically and problem solving
- National Curriculum: Computing: logical reasoning and algorithms
- PSHE: Living in the wider world: making decisions and evaluating choices
Pupil sheet
🔁 Loop the Loop
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. 'Repeat 4: move 1, turn right' draws a…
☐ Circle
☐ Square
☐ Triangle
2. Why use a loop?
☐ To avoid repeating code
☐ To delete code
☐ To make it slower
3. 'Repeat 3: clap' makes how many claps?
☐ 1
☐ 3
☐ 6
4. Write a loop to draw a triangle.