Logo Programming Game Lesson Plan: Turtle Academy

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

In this logo programming game lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-8, students use BrainPOP resources (including the Turtle Academy online programming game) to explore the popular computer programming language Logo.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.10

By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4–5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7

Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3

Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.4

Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11–12 texts and topics.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.7

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.3

Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4

Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6–8 texts and topics.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7

Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4

Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9–10 texts and topics.

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.7

Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.

Students will:

Define computer programming.
Explain how Logo functions as a computer programming language.
Explore Logo through an online game.

Materials:

Computers with internet access for BrainPOP

Preparation:

This lesson plan utilizes an online game called Turtle Academy. The game introduces students to the popular programming language Logo which was developed as an educational tool in the 1960s. Logo is a graphic-based computer language that allows students to move a triangular “turtle” to create line graphics in predictable ways. As they successfully complete basic levels, students will encounter more and more complex Logo tasks and commands.

Turtle Academy requires a fair amount of instructional reading, so we recommend that educators preview each level to ensure the accompanying informational texts are appropriate for your students.

Lesson Procedure:

Play the BrainPOP movie Computer Programming to introduce students to the topic.
Explain that they will have the chance to explore a simple computer programming language called Logo.
Pair students up to play the game. You may want to consider students' reading abilities when choosing partners, as Turtle Academy requires a fair amount of reading and direction following. If you have several students who may struggle to read the text, consider having them play the game with you in a small group setting.
Provide approximately 15 minutes for each pair of students to explore the first few tasks in the game.
Ask students to take a short break from game play to discuss strategies in a whole-class discussion.
Allow students to continue game play for at least 15 more minutes, encouraging them to work through as many levels as possible. Students can also continue game play at home.
Use the game quiz to assess student learning.