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Control Structures

Eighth graders learn the three building blocks of every program — sequence (steps in order), selection (if/else choices), and repetition (loops). Almost any program is built from these three. They check the ideas, then spot each one in code.

Grade 8Control Structures50 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…

  • ✓Name sequence, selection, repetition.
  • ✓Tell them apart.
  • ✓Spot them in code.
  • ✓Combine them.
Essential Question

What three building blocks make up nearly every program?

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

Control Structures

Project each one and have students answer about control structures.

🧱 Understand the three control structuresTry it
Answer each question about control structures.
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

50 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Three Blocks

5 min

Could almost any program be built from just three kinds of steps?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

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

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Control Structures

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Control Structures.
  • Note sequence, selection, repetition.
  • Note nearly all code uses these.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Spot Them

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Find a sequence in code.
  • Find an if/else.
  • Find a loop.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sequence.
  • Selection.
  • Loop.
4

Create — Create

15 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Write steps in sequence.
  • Add an if/else.
  • Add a loop.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sequence.
  • Select.
  • Repeat.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is selection?
  • What is repetition?
  • 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-12

Design programs using control structures.

CSTA
2-AP-10

Use algorithms with sequence, selection, loops.

CSTA
2-AP-17

Test programs that use control structures.

ISTE
5c

Reason about program flow.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Sequence/selection/loop cards.
  • Frame: "a loop repeats ___."
  • Use simple code examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Use sequence & loop.
  • Use clear examples.
  • One structure at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Nest a loop inside an if.
  • Trace mixed control flow.
  • Build a mini program.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🧱Structure cards
  • 💻Control Structures
  • 📋Code snippets
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

control structurehow a program’s steps runsequencesteps in orderselectionan if/else choicerepetitiona loopiterationone pass of a loopconditiona true/false testbrancha path the code can takeflowthe order code runs in
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 sequence?
Running steps one after another in order.
QUESTION 2
What is selection?
Choosing between paths with if/else.
QUESTION 3
What is repetition?
Repeating steps with a loop.

Reflect: control structures.

Have students spot sequence, selection, and repetition in code. A printable code-snippet sheet 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.

🃏 Control StructuresFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 Control StructuresQuiz
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.

🖨️ Control StructuresPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: branch, condition, control structure, flow, iteration, repetition, selection, sequence
  1. a path the code can take
  2. how a program’s steps run
  3. the order code runs in
  4. a true/false test
  5. a loop
  6. an if/else choice
  7. one pass of a loop
  8. steps in order

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is sequence?
  2. What is selection?
  3. What is repetition?
Answer key — Part A: 1) branch · 2) control structure · 3) flow · 4) condition · 5) repetition · 6) selection · 7) iteration · 8) sequence
Part B: 1) Running steps one after another in order. 2) Choosing between paths with if/else. 3) Repeating steps with a loop.