Lesson 2: Writing Clear Instructions
Estimated time: 15-20 minutes | Screen-Free Activity
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, your child will be able to:
- Write step-by-step instructions that someone else can follow
- Explain why the order of steps matters
- Find problems when steps are missing or out of order
Why Do Instructions Need to Be Clear?
In the last lesson, you learned to break big tasks into small steps. But here is something just as important: those steps need to be clear and in the right order.
Think about what would happen if you tried to pour milk into a bowl before putting the cereal in. Or if you tried to put your shoes on before putting on your socks. Things would not work out very well!
Sequencing means putting steps in the right order. When you write instructions, you have to think carefully about which step comes first, which comes second, and so on.
Computers are not smart the way people are. A computer cannot guess what you meant. It will do exactly what you tell it, in exactly the order you tell it. So learning to write clear, ordered instructions is great practice for coding.
What Happens When Steps Are Out of Order?
Look at these instructions for making a bowl of cereal. Something is wrong with the order. Can you spot the problem?
Mixed-Up Cereal Instructions
- Pour milk into the bowl
- Eat the cereal
- Get a bowl from the cupboard
- Pour cereal into the bowl
- Get a spoon
Wait -- you poured the milk before the cereal? And you ate it before getting a spoon? That would be a mess!
Try It: Fix the Order
Can you put those five steps in the correct order? Say them out loud or write them down. The answer is below, but try first!
- Get a bowl from the cupboard
- Pour cereal into the bowl
- Pour milk into the bowl
- Get a spoon
- Eat the cereal
What Happens When Steps Are Missing?
Missing steps can cause problems too. Look at these instructions for washing your hands:
Incomplete Hand-Washing Instructions
- Turn on the water
- Rub your hands together
- Dry your hands with a towel
Wait -- something important is missing! What is it?
Talk About It
Ask your child what steps are missing from the hand-washing instructions. They should notice: "Put soap on your hands" and "Rinse the soap off" and "Turn off the water." Those are pretty important steps!
When you write instructions, always ask yourself: "If I gave these steps to someone who has never done this before, would they know exactly what to do?" If the answer is no, you probably need to add more steps.
Tips for Writing Great Instructions
Here are four rules for writing instructions that really work:
1. Start at the Very Beginning
Do not skip the first steps. If someone needs to get materials or go to a certain place, say so.
2. One Action Per Step
Each step should tell you to do just one thing. "Get the bread and open the peanut butter and grab a knife" is too much for one step.
3. Put Steps in Order
Think about what needs to happen first. You cannot spread peanut butter if you have not opened the jar yet.
4. Be Specific
Instead of "put some peanut butter on the bread," try "use the knife to scoop a spoonful of peanut butter and spread it on one slice of bread."
Activity: Write Instructions for Brushing Your Teeth
Screen-Free Activity (10 minutes)
What you need: Paper and pencil.
The challenge: Write step-by-step instructions for brushing your teeth. Imagine you are writing these for a friendly robot who has never brushed teeth before. The robot will follow your instructions exactly, so be very clear and complete!
Steps:
- Think about everything you do when you brush your teeth, from start to finish.
- Write each step as a numbered list.
- Try to include at least 6 steps.
- Read your steps out loud. Did you forget anything?
- Have your parent "be the robot" and follow your instructions exactly. If you said "put toothpaste on the brush" but never said "pick up the toothbrush," the robot will be confused!
Example to get started:
- Pick up your toothbrush
- Turn on the water
- Wet the toothbrush under the water
- Pick up the toothpaste tube
- Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the brush
- ... keep going!
Parent Tip: Be the Confused Robot
This is one of the most fun and effective activities you can do. When your child gives you instructions, follow them literally. If they say "put the toothpaste on," pick up the whole tube and set it on top of the toothbrush. If they say "brush your teeth" without saying to open your mouth first, pretend to brush the outside of your closed lips. Your child will laugh and quickly learn why specific, ordered instructions matter. This is exactly how computers work -- they do what you say, not what you mean.
Why This Matters for Coding
When you write code for a computer, you are writing instructions. The computer reads your instructions from top to bottom, one step at a time, just like a recipe. If the instructions are out of order or missing a step, the program will not work correctly.
In the next two lessons, you will practice more with recipes, maps, and flowcharts. Then in Lesson 4, you will see how step-by-step instructions work in Scratch!
Check Your Understanding
1. What is "sequencing"?
2. What happens if you give a computer instructions that are out of order?
3. What are two common problems with instructions?
Key Takeaways
- Sequencing means putting steps in the correct order
- Good instructions have one action per step and start at the very beginning
- Steps that are out of order or missing will cause problems
- Being specific and clear matters because computers (and robots!) follow instructions exactly
- The "confused robot" game is a great way to test if your instructions are clear
Ready for More?
Next Lesson
In Lesson 3, you will explore recipes, directions, and flowcharts as different ways to show step-by-step thinking.
Start Lesson 3