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Year 4

Procedures in programming

I can decompose a task into small steps.

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New
New
Year 4

Procedures in programming

I can decompose a task into small steps.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Actions have 'chunks' within everyday sequences.
  2. A computer can repeatedly call a procedure.
  3. Programs can use procedures.

Keywords

  • Decompose - to break down a task into smaller, more achievable steps

  • Procedure - a named set of commands that can be called multiple times throughout a program

Common misconception

The computer understands procedure names and knows what to do based on the chosen name.

The name is for humans, the computer only follows the instructions inside the procedure.


To help you plan your year 4 computing lesson on: Procedures in programming, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A subroutine is a sequence of commands to perform a specific task with an identifiable name. Consider how we use this in real life with a general instruction of walk to school but this sequence itself contains many different instructions followed such as "walk to end of road", "turn right", etc.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Software that can run Logo code is required to complete activities. This could be downloaded software such as FMSLogo or online alternatives.

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

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a program?
Correct answer: a set of ordered commands that a computer can run
a single command to control a computer
a shape that moves on the screen
a sequence of repeated patterns
Q2.
What is a command in programming?
a precise sequence of steps
Correct answer: a single instruction in a program
a repeated pattern in a loop
a shape that draws lines
Q3.
What is an algorithm?
Correct answer: a precise sequence of steps to complete a task
a small shape that moves and draws on the screen
a repeated section of code
a single instruction in a program
Q4.
What does the term "debug" mean in programming?
to create an algorithm
to repeat a section of code
to design a new program
Correct answer: to find and fix errors in a program
Q5.
What is a count-controlled loop?
a shape that moves on the screen
a sequence of repeated patterns
Correct answer: a section of code that runs a certain number of times
a single command in a program
Q6.
What command would you use to draw a square with a screen turtle? Use the repeat command and sides of 100 steps.
Correct Answer: repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90], repeat 4 [rt 90 fd 100]

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put these steps of decomposition in order.
1 - Break the task into smaller steps.
2 - Write an algorithm for the smaller steps.
3 - Translate the algorithm into code.
Q2.
What is a procedure in programming?
a single command that is used once
Correct answer: a named set of commands that can be reused
a loop that repeats a command
a step-by-step sequence of instructions
Q3.
Match the terms with their definitions.
Correct Answer:decompose,to break down a task into smaller steps

to break down a task into smaller steps

Correct Answer:procedure,a named set of commands that can be reused

a named set of commands that can be reused

Correct Answer:debug,to find and fix errors in a program

to find and fix errors in a program

Q4.
Order these steps for using a procedure in a program.
1 - Create a procedure.
2 - Call the procedure in the program.
3 - Run the program.
Q5.
What of these statements about a procedure is correct?
The name must include numbers to work.
Correct answer: The name is only for humans, the computer only follows the instructions.
The name must match the algorithm exactly.
The computer understands the name and acts accordingly.
Q6.
Write the command to create a new procedure called square.
Correct Answer: to square