Unplugged Coding: Animal Sequence

To solve an unplugged programming activity with animals in a sequence, students can follow these steps:

1. Analyze the Sequence:

• Examine the given sequence of animals.
• Identify the pattern or rule that determines the order of the animals.
• Ask questions like: “Is the sequence repeating?” “Is it an alternating pattern?” “Is it a growing or shrinking pattern?”

2. Identify the Missing Animal:

• Once the pattern is understood, apply that rule to the missing spot in the sequence.
• Determine which animal logically comes next based on the established pattern.

3. Fill in the Blank:

• Draw, place a picture of, or write the name of the missing animal in the correct position.

4. Check the Answer:

• Review the completed sequence with the new animal included.
• Does the entire sequence now follow the same pattern consistently? If so, the answer is correct.

Extensions:

• Create Your Own Sequence: Design your own animal sequences for a partner to solve.
• Debug a Broken Sequence: Present a sequence with an error (e.g., an animal out of place). Students must “debug” the sequence by identifying and correcting the mistake.
• Translate to Code: Introduce simple programming concepts by translating the animal patterns into code. For example, a repeating AB pattern could be represented as a loop that prints “A” then “B” and repeats.
• Counting and Math Integration: Assign a number to each animal. The sequence then becomes a numerical pattern. For example, if a cat is 1 and a dog is 2, the pattern “cat, dog, cat, dog” becomes “1, 2, 1, 2.”