Create procedures. Use them to make 'whirly' patterns.

Resources, organisation

Large display (see weekly plan) with marker pens. Group work following whole-class introduction.
The main activity depends on computer access, so is best run alongside other work, as time permits.

Revision / oral

Recap the 'rules' for drawing regular polygons and stars.What do we mean by a regular shape? Quick-fire questions: Six-pointed star - right 150 degrees - left what? Enter this, to check it's correct.

Key vocabulary

Procedure, TO, END, EDIT

Main activity

Show on the display how to define a procedure. Stress the benefit of using a short name that you'll recognise! Refer to the How to... sheet on procedures, and have this available by the computers.

Example:

TO HEX
>REPEAT 6 [FD 25 RT 60]
>END

Show that the computer now knows a new word:

CS HEX FD 25 HEX and so on.

Show the class how to edit a procedure, e.g. to make the hexagon bigger.

EDIT "HEX

For now, simply say that the 'label' stops the computer trying to draw another hexagon!

Use the HEX command to draw a whirly pattern:

REPEAT 12 [HEX RT 30]

Why REPEAT 12? Why RT 30? Good revision of earlier work!

Children plan a whirly pattern based on their favourite polygon. Try this on the computer and print. Record the Logo commands.

Extension: do the same with your favourite star!

Support

Give the children suggestions based on the simplest shapes and easily- remembered turns. Check they fully understand 360 degrees as a whole turn.

Challenge

Once children have made patterns, ask them to write procedures to draw a rectangle and a rhombus. It is a good idea to model on paper first. This is a good follow-up assessment activity. Can they break down the problem?

Plenary

Children report on their work. Using the large display, show their patterns and talk about how they were produced.

Download weekly plan (weekly plan in RTF)

Download the full set of lessons for Word (301K)

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