“What happens when you click ‘forward?'” we asked, referring to an icon on the students’ computer screens. Several kids—mostly those who had seen “Turtle Art” before—raised their hands and said it “makes the turtle go up.”
This was the introduction to a programming unit our 5th graders will be working on for several weeks. In “Turtle Art,” students enter basic commands (such as “forward,” and “left”) to move a turtle around a screen. The turtle has ink on her tail, and wherever she moves, she draws a line.
“So,” we asked, “what happens if you click ‘right?'” and the kids said it makes the turtle go right. (Actually it makes the turtle turn right, in place—but we didn’t tell them that.) Then, in teams of two, we let them experiment with the different commands by themselves. Their goal for the day was to draw a square—any old square—using just three commands: “forward,” “right,” and “clear.” (So, this could look like “forward 100,” “right 90,” repeated, to make the turtle move 100 spaces forward, then turn right 90 degrees, and so on.) When students got stuck, we had them physically walk out their commands around the classroom, to get a sense of what the turtle might do.
As the unit goes on, students will have to work together to draw circles, houses, and their initials. It’s an exercise in critical thinking, and collaboration. We’re excited to see what everyone comes up with!
About
David is the documentarian and professional development coordinator for the Creativity Lab. In 2014, he received a BA in creative writing from Louisiana State University, with focuses on short fiction and screenwriting. In partnering with New Orleans-based independent film company, Asymptote Pictures, his work has been featured in film festivals across the country. He likes his espresso maker, and vegetarian tacos.
