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Follow the Directions

Second graders learn that computers follow directions exactly — doing precisely what they’re told, step by step — so giving clear, correct instructions is the key to making a computer do what you want.

Grade 2Algorithms30 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Know computers follow directions exactly.
  • ✓See why order matters.
  • ✓Give clear directions.
  • ✓Fix a mistake.
Essential Question

Computers are great at following directions — but ONLY if you give them the right ones! Why do we have to be so careful with our instructions?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Follow the Directions Check

Project each item and have children answer about how computers follow directions.

🤖 Understand following directionsTry it
Answer each question about following directions.
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Exactly As Told

4 min

Computers follow directions exactly — why be careful?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a silly exact direction.
  • Ask what happened.
  • Get ready.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Laugh.
  • Get ready.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

8 min

Children practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Be a robot following exact steps.
  • Try a missing step.
  • Feel the idea.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Follow.
  • Notice.
  • Feel it.
3

Use — Directions Check

9 min

Children use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to Follow the Directions Check.
  • Note exactness.
  • Explain order.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Explain.
4

Modify — Fix It

6 min

Children modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fix an unclear direction.
  • Make it exact.
  • Explain the fix.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Fix it.
  • Make it clear.
  • Explain.
5

Create — Create

3 min

Children conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a clear direction.
  • Explain why it’s clear.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Give one.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
1A-AP-08

Model precise instructions.

CSTA
1A-AP-10

Develop programs with clear steps.

CSTA
1A-AP-14

Debug by fixing instructions.

ISTE
5

Computational Thinker.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Direction cards.
  • Sentence frame: “The computer does ___.”
  • Play robot games.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “exactly as told.”
  • Use simple directions.
  • Follow one step.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Explain a bug.
  • Write clear steps.
  • Debug a wrong order.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🤖Robot game space
  • 💻Follow the Directions Check
  • 📋Direction cards
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

directiona step to followinstructiona directionexactlyjust as toldcleareasy to understandorderthe right positionmistakesomething wrongfixto make rightdebugto fix a mistake
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
How do computers follow instructions?
Exactly, one step at a time.
QUESTION 2
If your steps are in the wrong order, what will the computer do?
Do them in that wrong order.
QUESTION 3
Why give clear, correct instructions?
So the computer does what we actually want.

Create: clear directions.

Have children give a family member clear step-by-step directions for a task and see if they work. A printable directions sheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Follow the DirectionsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Follow the DirectionsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Follow the DirectionsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: clear, debug, direction, exactly, fix, instruction, mistake, order
  1. easy to understand
  2. the right position
  3. to make right
  4. a direction
  5. something wrong
  6. to fix a mistake
  7. a step to follow
  8. just as told

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do computers follow instructions?
  2. If your steps are in the wrong order, what will the computer do?
  3. Why give clear, correct instructions?
Answer key — Part A: 1) clear · 2) order · 3) fix · 4) instruction · 5) mistake · 6) debug · 7) direction · 8) exactly
Part B: 1) Exactly, one step at a time. 2) Do them in that wrong order. 3) So the computer does what we actually want.