Read with an adult. Take your time. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.
1 Let's look together
Before we run instructions, we can predict where the robot will finish. Trace each step with a finger.
Keep track of its facing direction after a turn. Then run the program and compare the result with your prediction.
Look, point and talk with your adult.
2 Watch how I do it
Start at the top-left square facing right. Forward, forward should finish in the third square of the top row. I trace and count two moves, not three.
3 Your turn
From the top-left facing right, where does one forward move finish?
Have a go before opening the answer.
Let's check together
In the second square of the top row.
4 Try it away from the page
Make a prediction for forward, right turn, forward on a paper grid. Then act it out. It finishes one square right and one square down from the start.
Try a real program
Help the robot reach the flag
Start at the top-left, facing right. The flag is at the bottom-right. Say where you think your robot will finish before you run it.
Forward moves one square the way the robot faces. Turn left and Turn right turn on the spot. They do not move into another square.
What happened? · command trace
Find and fix: try Forward, Forward, Forward. Which command hits the edge? Remove it. Add Turn right, Forward, Forward. Reset and test your new program.
Practice only. Your program and trace stay on this page and disappear when you reload or leave. This tool sends nothing, saves no score and does not mark a lesson complete.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
Not saved to your account. Download your drawing as PNG and your typed notes as TXT before leaving or refreshing. They are separate files. Do not enter private information.
Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
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Typed notes are not submitted answers.
Explore and practise freely. Opening this lesson or using the writing pad does not save completion or a score.
Adult notes · prerequisites, safety and coverage
Reset position and direction each trial. Use a 3×3 grid. Hand tracing must model turns separately from movement.
Computing is the curriculum subject name. KS1 expectations span Years 1 and 2; this is our Year 1 introduction. Stay with the child, use school-approved tools, and practise on a device as well as on paper. Never enter real passwords or personal information in exercises.
Predict a simple program's behaviour (KS1 introduction).
Create and debug simple programs (KS1 introduction).