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Coding Flowcharts

Fifth graders map out a program with a flowchart — ovals for start/end, rectangles for action steps, and diamonds for decisions (yes/no questions). They sort steps from decisions, then draw a flowchart of their own.

Grade 5Flowcharts45 minutes1 class periodCSTA / ISTEExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Read a flowchart.
  • ✓Tell an action from a decision.
  • ✓Use the right shape.
  • ✓Draw a simple flowchart.
Essential Question

How do flowcharts map out a program step by step?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Action Step or Decision?

Project this and sort each item into an Action step (rectangle) or a Decision (diamond).

🔀 Sort each — an action step or a yes/no decision?Try it
🟩 Action step (rectangle)
🔶 Decision (diamond)
Tap an item, then tap a box.
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

45 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Map the Plan

5 min

How could you draw a plan that a computer could follow?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a cereal-making flowchart.
  • Ask what each shape means.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Flowcharts

10 min

Students read flowcharts.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Action or Decision?
  • Sort each item.
  • Note rectangles vs diamonds.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Change a Path

12 min

Students modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Add a “yes/no” branch to a diamond.
  • Reroute one arrow.
  • Trace the new path.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Add.
  • Reroute.
  • Trace.
4

Create — Draw Your Own

12 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a routine (brushing teeth).
  • Use oval, rectangle, diamond.
  • Add one decision.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Draw.
  • Add.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name the 3 shapes.
  • Say what a diamond is for.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name them.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

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

CSTA
1B-AP-11

Decompose a problem into smaller named parts.

CSTA
1B-AP-10

Create programs with sequences, events, loops & conditionals.

CSTA
1B-AP-15

Test and debug a program to ensure it runs.

ISTE
5 Computational Thinker

Plan and model an algorithm.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Use shape cutouts.
  • Label shapes with words.
  • Describe the path aloud.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Sort action vs decision only.
  • One shape type at a time.
  • Use pictures.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add a loop arrow (go back).
  • Flowchart a 2-decision task.
  • Trade & trace a partner’s.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔀Shape cutouts
  • 💻Action or Decision?
  • 📐Flowchart template
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

flowcharta diagram that maps a program with shapesovalthe start/end shaperectanglean action stepdiamonda yes/no decisionarrowshows the order to followdecisiona question with two pathsbrancha path taken based on a decisionalgorithmthe step-by-step plan
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
What shape is an action step?
A rectangle.
QUESTION 2
What shape is a yes/no decision?
A diamond.
QUESTION 3
What does an oval show?
The start or the end.

Reflect: flowcharts.

Have students draw a 4-shape flowchart of a daily routine with one decision. A printable flowchart template 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.

🃏 CS Flowcharts (Grade 5)Flip
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.

📝 CS Flowcharts (Grade 5)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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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.

🖨️ CS Flowcharts (Grade 5)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: algorithm, arrow, branch, decision, diamond, flowchart, oval, rectangle
  1. the step-by-step plan
  2. a yes/no decision
  3. a diagram that maps a program with shapes
  4. a question with two paths
  5. shows the order to follow
  6. a path taken based on a decision
  7. an action step
  8. the start/end shape

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What shape is an action step?
  2. What shape is a yes/no decision?
  3. What does an oval show?
Answer key — Part A: 1) algorithm · 2) diamond · 3) flowchart · 4) decision · 5) arrow · 6) branch · 7) rectangle · 8) oval
Part B: 1) A rectangle. 2) A diamond. 3) The start or the end.