← Back to activity

Unplugged Coding: Robot Parent

A companion sheet — print it, scribble on it, keep it or recycle it

Voleio

What we're doing

Program a grown-up with precise instructions. Debugging guaranteed.

  • About 20 minutes
  • Cross-curricular
  • Game

Gather these

  • Paper
  • Pen
  • A willing adult

Step by step

  • Choose a task: make a jam sandwich, cross the room.
  • Write the instructions as numbered steps.
  • The adult follows them literally.
  • Fix the bugs and run again.

Worth talking about

Algorithms
Sequencing
Debugging
VOLEIOUnplugged Coding: Robot ParentPage 1 of 3

Draw what you found

There's no wrong way to fill this in

Voleio

Two things worth drawing

Tick what you did

Computational thinking
Sequencing
Precision
Tried something new
Asked a question
Finished happy

A grown-up's note

VOLEIOUnplugged Coding: Robot ParentPage 2 of 3

Take it further

Three doors out of the same activity

Voleio

If it felt tricky

Use three directional commands only.

If it felt easy

Add loops and 'if' conditions.

If you'd rather do it differently

Do it outside as a garden obstacle course.

Next time, we could

  • Try it outdoors
  • Invite a friend or sibling
  • Stretch it over a whole week

Our own ideas