New
New
Year 3

Debugging movement

I can fix the bugs that I find in a program.

New
New
Year 3

Debugging movement

I can fix the bugs that I find in a program.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A program can be tested against a design.
  2. A piece of code can be matched to an outcome.
  3. A bug is an error in the coding of the program.
  4. Debugging is finding and fixing these errors in a program.

Keywords

  • Bug - an error or mistake in code that stops it from working properly or as expected

  • Debug - finding and fixing errors in a program

Common misconception

Only new programmers will have bugs in their programs.

Every programmer will need to correct errors and debug their code. Part of the process of programming is correcting mistakes made as you go along. Regluarly test your program does what it needs to as you go along.


To help you plan your year 3 computing lesson on: Debugging movement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You will need to be familiar with the term �debug� and the process of �debugging�. A bug is an error in the design or the coding of the program, and the process of debugging is finding and fixing these errors. Pupils benefit from knowing that teachers will produce programs that have bugs as well.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils will need access to a device with block-based programming software. Examples in this lesson use Scratch https://oak.link/scratch

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which input device can be used to control a program?

monitor
printer
speaker
Correct answer: keyboard

Q2.
Match the terms with their definitions.

Correct Answer:algorithm,a precise set of ordered steps

a precise set of ordered steps

Correct Answer:extension,adds new features to a project

adds new features to a project

Correct Answer:event,an input that triggers commands

an input that triggers commands

Q3.
What is a sprite in Scratch?

a block of code
a drink
Correct answer: a graphic object controlled by a program
a type of extension

Q4.
Why might you adjust the size of a sprite?

Correct answer: to fit it with the background
to make it invisible
to stop it from moving
to delete it

Q5.
What does the ‘duplicate’ command do in Scratch?

Correct answer: copies an exact part of a coding project
deletes a sprite
changes the pen size
moves a sprite

Q6.
What does the pen extension in Scratch allow you to do?

move a sprite
add sound effects
Correct answer: draw lines
change the background

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the terms with their definitions.

Correct Answer:testing,checking if a program works as intended

checking if a program works as intended

Correct Answer:design,a plan that outlines how a program should function

a plan that outlines how a program should function

Correct Answer:code,instructions written for a computer to run

instructions written for a computer to run

Q2.
What is a bug in programming?

a type of software
Correct answer: an error in the coding of a program
a feature of a program
a sprite in Scratch

Q3.
What is debugging?

writing a new program
adding new features to a program
Correct answer: finding and fixing errors in a program
testing a program without fixing errors

Q4.
Why is testing a program important?

Correct answer: to find bugs and ensure it works properly
to add new features
to make it look better
to delete unnecessary code

Q5.
Arrange the five steps for debugging in the correct order.

1 - review the task
2 - test the project
3 - identify the bug
4 - fix the bug
5 - test the bug fix

Q6.
What does debugging help with?

improving the program’s appearance
Correct answer: ensuring the program works
adding new features
changing the program’s design