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Year 4

Types of loops

I can tell the difference between count-controlled loops and infinite loops.

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New
New
Year 4

Types of loops

I can tell the difference between count-controlled loops and infinite loops.

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. In programming, there are count-controlled loops and infinite loops.
  2. An infinite loop is a sequence of instructions that is continuously repeated, without an end point.
  3. Different types of loops are more suitable for different tasks.

Keywords

  • Repeat - happen multiple times

  • Count-controlled loop - a chunk of code that runs a section of the program a certain number of times

  • Infinite loop - a chunk of code that runs a section of the program continuously

Common misconception

A count-controlled loop repeats forever.

An infinite loop repeats forever, unless the program is stopped.


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

In this lesson, sprites change costumes. Costumes are alternative appearances of a sprite, which can be named, edited, created, and deleted. Here, they are used as part of an animation, where the sprite moves from one costume to the next.
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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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is an example of repetition in everyday life?
a rainbow after rain
a single apple on a tree
a birthday card for your ninth birthday
Correct answer: the ticking of a clock
Q2.
What do we call a single instruction that tells a computer what to do?
Correct Answer: command, a command
Q3.
Match the real-life example to the type of repetition.
Correct Answer:days of the week,repeating cycle

repeating cycle

Correct Answer:tiles on a floor,repeating pattern

repeating pattern

Correct Answer:steps in a dance,repeated actions

repeated actions

Correct Answer:clapping in a song,repeated sound

repeated sound

Q4.
What is something you can change in a code snippet to get a different result?
the paper it is written on
Correct answer: the number in a loop
the size of your computer
the day of the week
Q5.
If you want a sprite to jump three times, which loop would you use?
Correct answer: repeat 3
loop 3
repeat forever
repeat until done
Q6.
In programming, what is the purpose of a count-controlled loop?
to make the code stop
to write a story
Correct answer: to do the same thing several times
to change the colour of text

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an infinite loop?
Correct answer: a loop that repeats forever
a loop that repeats twice
a loop that never starts
a loop that counts backwards
Q2.
Which block in Scratch is most likely to create an infinite loop?
Correct Answer: forever
Q3.
Why might you use a count-controlled loop instead of an infinite loop?
to repeat an action forever
Correct answer: to repeat an action a set number of times
to change the sprite’s colour
to stop the program
Q4.
Which of these is an example of an infinite loop in real life?
brushing your teeth once
jumping three times
writing your name once
Correct answer: a clock ticking continuously
Q5.
What is a key difference between count-controlled and infinite loops?
only infinite loops can move sprites
Correct answer: count-controlled loops have an end, infinite loops do not
both always repeat forever
both require costumes
Q6.
Match the Scratch block to the type of loop it creates.
Correct Answer:repeat 10,count-controlled loop

count-controlled loop

Correct Answer:forever,infinite loop

infinite loop

Correct Answer:wait 1 second,not a loop

not a loop