Learn Without Walls
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Module 4: Practice Activities

Practice Making Decisions!

These activities cover if/then thinking, yes/no questions, decision trees, and Scratch conditionals. Do them in any order. Some are screen-free and some use Scratch. Hints and examples are available if you need them!

Screen-Free Activities

1 Complete the If/Then Rules

Finish each if/then rule. There is no single right answer -- be creative!

  • If the doorbell rings, then _______________
  • If you spill your drink, then _______________
  • If you see a rainbow, then _______________
  • If your shoelace is untied, then _______________
  • If a friend is crying, then _______________
Example answers:
  • If the doorbell rings, then go see who is at the door.
  • If you spill your drink, then get a towel and clean it up.
  • If you see a rainbow, then look at all the colors and make a wish.
  • If your shoelace is untied, then stop and tie it.
  • If a friend is crying, then ask them what is wrong and try to help.

Any thoughtful answer that follows the if/then pattern is a good answer!

2 If/Then/Else Challenge

Now make rules with BOTH a "then" and an "else." This means you handle what happens when the "if" is true AND when it is false.

  • If it is a school day, then _______________. Else _______________.
  • If you are taller than the ride sign, then _______________. Else _______________.
  • If the library is open, then _______________. Else _______________.
Example answers:
  • If it is a school day, then pack your backpack. Else sleep in!
  • If you are taller than the ride sign, then you can go on the ride. Else try a different ride.
  • If the library is open, then go in and pick a book. Else come back tomorrow.

3 20 Questions: Food Edition

Screen-Free Game

Play 20 Questions, but the secret thing must be a food. Good starting questions:

  • "Is it a fruit?" / "Is it a vegetable?"
  • "Do you cook it?"
  • "Is it sweet?"
  • "Can you eat it with your hands?"
  • "Is it usually a breakfast food?"

Play at least 3 rounds. Notice how each yes/no answer helps you narrow down the possibilities.

4 Draw a Decision Tree: What Should I Do After School?

Screen-Free Drawing Activity

Draw a decision tree for choosing what to do after school. Start with this question at the top:

"Do I have homework?"

Branch into YES and NO. Then add more questions:

  • YES branch: "Is it a lot of homework?" → YES: Do homework right away. NO: Do homework, then play.
  • NO branch: "Is it nice outside?" → YES: Play outside. NO: Read a book or play inside.

You can add even more branches if you want! The bigger the tree, the more choices it handles.

Scratch Challenges

5 Sprite That Changes Color with Keys

Scratch Challenge

Make a sprite that changes how it looks depending on which key you press:

  • Press "r" → sprite changes to a red color effect
  • Press "b" → sprite changes to a blue color effect
  • Press "g" → sprite changes to a green color effect
  • Press "space" → sprite goes back to normal (clear graphic effects)

Hint: Use "if key [r] pressed? then set color effect to (0)" inside a forever loop. The color effect numbers are: 0 = red, 100 = blue, 50 = green. Use "clear graphic effects" for the space key.

6 Edge Detector

Scratch Challenge

Make the cat walk across the stage. When it reaches the edge, it should say "I hit the wall!" and turn around.

Hint: Use "if on edge, bounce" from Motion. Or for a bigger challenge, use "if <touching [edge]?> then" with a "turn 180 degrees" block and a "say" block.

when green flag clicked
forever
  move (5) steps
  if <touching [edge]?> then
    say [I hit the wall!] for (1) seconds
    turn right (180) degrees
  end
end (forever)

7 Quiz Show

Scratch Challenge

Make a sprite host a quiz! The sprite asks a question, the player types an answer, and the sprite says if it is right or wrong.

  1. Use "ask [What is 5 + 3?] and wait" to ask a question.
  2. Use "if <(answer) = [8]> then" to check the answer.
  3. If correct: say "That is right!"
  4. Else: say "Not quite. The answer is 8."
  5. Add at least 3 questions in a row.

Bonus: Keep score! Create a variable called "score" and add 1 to it for each correct answer.

8 Simple Maze Game

Scratch Challenge (Advanced)

Combine everything you have learned to make a simple maze:

  1. Paint a maze backdrop with black walls and a white path.
  2. Make the cat small (set size to 30%).
  3. Use arrow key movement from Lesson 4.
  4. Add "if touching color [black]?" to detect walls. When the cat touches a wall, move it back to the start.
  5. Paint a gold circle at the end of the maze. Add "if touching color [gold]?" to detect the goal. When touched, say "You win!"

This is a bigger project. Take your time with it and build it one piece at a time. You do not have to finish it all in one sitting.

Great Work!

If you have tried at least 4 of these activities, you are ready for the Module 4 Quiz. You have done an amazing job learning about decisions!

Take the Quiz Back to Module 4