Speaking Code: Conditionals
Lesson 4 (of 7)

This is the fourth of seven lessons.

Learners will focus on learning the coding concept of ‘conditionals’. This lesson includes a computer activity and an unplugged activity. Educators can do both activities or choose one of the activities.

Prerequisites

The educator should have some knowledge of coding concepts and experience with Scratch or Blockly. Completing the individual activities ahead of time would be helpful as you may have to model how to complete activities. There is an option to see the solution for each activity.

Introduction

Ask: What are conditionals?

Play ‘Flocabulary - Coding Conditionals’.

Plugged-in Activity

30-45 minutes

Complete this activity.

Unplugged Activity #1: If-Then Statements

10-15 minutes

Say: You can think of conditionals also as ‘If - Then Statements’.

Write down a few ‘if statements’ on a piece of paper (e.g. ‘At recess, if it is cold outside…’). Then have a partner choose one of your statements to respond to (e.g. ‘then I should dress warm’).

Unplugged Activity #2: Conditionals with Cards (code.org)

45-60 minutes

Complete this lesson.

View lesson preview video.

Online activities include a multiple choice and matching assessment that learners must answer before completing the activity level.

Make anecdotal notes of learners who are struggling to complete tasks. Also, make notes of learners who are completing tasks quickly and/or supporting their peers.

For unplugged activities, assess learners’ “If - Then statements”.

Coding: Early finishers can explore code.org Hour of Code activities.

English:

• For this lesson series, learners could use a digital or regular journal, to include the coding vocabulary taught.
• Real World Connections

Math: Make Conditional Statement connections to specific math curriculum that is being taught in your classroom (e.g. multiplication: ‘if’ a number is multiplied by zero, ‘then’ it will equal zero).

Technology & Society (Tech & Wellbeing): Review your school or district’s acceptable use policy and make connections to conditionals (e.g. ‘If” you use inappropriate language, ‘then’ your technology use will be restricted.)

Data (Data & its Uses): As a class or independently, have learners create their own Google or Microsoft forms. Include questions that are conditionals (e.g. ‘If’ answer is correct, ‘then’ give one point).

AI & Machine Learning: Make connections to Conditionals and Machine Learning. For example, in the ‘Make Me Happy’ project, learners will create a character in Scratch that smiles if you say nice things to it and cries if you say mean things to it.

Flocabulary - Coding Conditionals
https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/coding-conditionals/

code.org: Conditionals Activity
https://studio.code.org/s/course2/stage/13/puzzle/1

code.org Unplugged: Conditionals with Cards
https://code.org/curriculum/course2/12/Teacher
https://studio.code.org/s/course2/stage/12/puzzle/1

code.org Hour of Code Activities
https://code.org/learn

Teaching If Then Statements, Make Real World Connections (TechnoKids, 2019)
https://www.technokids.com/blog/teaching-strategies/teaching-if-then-statements/

Machine Learning for Kids Projects
https://machinelearningforkids.co.uk/#!/worksheets

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