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Variables Unplugged Activity

What’s the score?

Age: 7-11 years

Type: Unplugged

Curriculum Links to: English

The Variables Unplugged Activity has been rated 5 stars

RESOURCE OVERVIEW:

This is an unplugged activity in which pupils learn about variables by keeping score for a game. In doing so pupils learn why variables are needed, how they are created, how they store data, and how this data may be used by a computer program as it runs.

PUPIL OBJECTIVES:

  • I can describe what a variable is.
  • I can describe how a score variable is used.

TEACHING ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Informal teacher assessment of pupils during main task and plenary. Focus on understanding of how a variable works, e.g:

  • Variables need to be created and sensibly named.
  • Data can be stored in variables. The values in a variable can change as a program runs.
  • Programs may look to see, and use the data, in a variable at any time and this doesn’t remove it from the variable.
  • Pupils can give examples of variables in computer programs they have seen.

LESSON TIMING: 35 min

This lesson in your curriculum

England
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales

Computing

  • Work with variables


English

  • Development of spoken language, including: Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers