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Sequencing

Sixth graders learn sequencing — putting steps in the exact right order. Computers follow instructions one after another, so order matters: swap two steps and the whole thing breaks. They order an everyday algorithm, then sequence a program.

Grade 6Sequencing50 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…

  • ✓Define sequence.
  • ✓Put steps in order.
  • ✓See why order matters.
  • ✓Sequence a program.
Essential Question

Why does the ORDER of steps matter so much to a computer?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Steps

Project this and have students put the steps in the right order.

🍞 Put the steps in the right orderTry it
Tap the first step to make toast!
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

50 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Order Matters

5 min

What happens if you toast the bread BEFORE you take it out of the bag?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pose the question.
  • Share ideas.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Sequencing

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Steps.
  • Order them.
  • Note order matters.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Try It

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a simple task.
  • List the steps.
  • Put them in order.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • List.
  • Order.
4

Create — Create

15 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sequence a short program.
  • Run it in order.
  • Fix any out-of-order step.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sequence.
  • Run.
  • Fix.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is sequencing?
  • Why does order matter?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • 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
2-AP-10

Use sequence in algorithms.

CSTA
2-AP-11

Represent ordered steps.

CSTA
2-AP-13

Decompose a task into ordered steps.

ISTE
5c

Reason about step order.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Step cards.
  • Frame: "first ___, then ___."
  • Order a recipe.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Use a 3-step task.
  • Use pictures.
  • Follow a model.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Sequence a longer task.
  • Find an order bug.
  • Flowchart a sequence.
Materials

What to gather

  • 🍞Step cards
  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 💻Order the Steps
  • 📋Sequencing worksheet
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

sequencesteps in orderstepone instructionorderthe arrangement of stepsalgorithma set of stepsfirst/next/lastorder wordsinstructiona command to followprocessa series of stepspreciseclear and exact
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 is sequencing?
Putting steps in the exact right order.
QUESTION 2
Why does order matter to a computer?
It follows steps one after another, exactly.
QUESTION 3
What happens if two steps are swapped?
The program may do the wrong thing.

Reflect: sequencing.

Have students sequence a short program correctly. A printable sequencing worksheet is in the CS 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.

🃏 SequencingFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 SequencingQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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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.

🖨️ SequencingPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: algorithm, first/next/last, instruction, order, precise, process, sequence, step
  1. a series of steps
  2. steps in order
  3. a set of steps
  4. a command to follow
  5. one instruction
  6. the arrangement of steps
  7. clear and exact
  8. order words

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is sequencing?
  2. Why does order matter to a computer?
  3. What happens if two steps are swapped?
Answer key — Part A: 1) process · 2) sequence · 3) algorithm · 4) instruction · 5) step · 6) order · 7) precise · 8) first/next/last
Part B: 1) Putting steps in the exact right order. 2) It follows steps one after another, exactly. 3) The program may do the wrong thing.