Year 8 are sequencing algorithms before they write any code. The teacher has set up one Microsoft Whiteboard per pair, shared through school accounts, holding three Parsons puzzles: a password checker, a times-table printer and a largest-number finder, each as ten shuffled pseudocode lines on sticky notes. Pairs drag the lines into working order, and each puzzle hides one distractor line that belongs to no correct solution, so spotting it shows the pair has read the logic rather than matched the indentation. For each puzzle the teacher asks one pair to read out its order and a different pair to defend where the loop ends, since that is where these puzzles are won and lost. The lesson ends with pairs copying their password checker into their books, ready to turn it into code next lesson.
Tools: Microsoft Whiteboard Nine ideas for your own version in Generate
This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and grade. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.