New
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Lesson 8 of 9
  • Year 10
  • AQA

Programming project: sequence I

I can plan a program using a structured design and write code by following a clear, step-by-step sequence.

Lesson 8 of 9
New
New
  • Year 10
  • AQA

Programming project: sequence I

I can plan a program using a structured design and write code by following a clear, step-by-step sequence.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The logical flow of a program is described step by step, showing the sequence of actions, decisions and outcomes.

Keywords

  • Decomposition - breaking down a problem into smaller parts to make the task more manageable

  • Flowchart - a visual representation of an algorithm or program

Common misconception

I can just start coding and figure it out as I go. Planning is a waste of time and boring.

Planning is like building a strong foundation. A good plan helps you write better code faster.


To help you plan your year 10 computer science lesson on: Programming project: sequence I, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use a "Code Planning Challenge." Give a problem, ask students code it, then plan it and compare results.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils will need access to a device that can edit and run Python programs. Examples in this lesson use the RPF Code Editor https://oak.link/python-editor

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 the following is NOT a data type?

integer
floating point
Boolean
Correct answer: variable

Q2.
What can happen if you use the wrong data type?

the program runs faster
Correct answer: the program may cause errors
the program becomes easier to debug
the program works perfectly

Q3.
What is an example of a Boolean value?

42
"Hello"
Correct answer: True
3.14

Q4.
What is the purpose of casting in a program?

to improve code readability
Correct answer: to convert data types
to assign values to variables
to declare constants

Q5.
Match the terms with their definitions:

Correct Answer:data type,defines the kind of data stored

defines the kind of data stored

Correct Answer:casting,converts one data type to another

converts one data type to another

Correct Answer:Boolean,represents True or False

represents True or False

Correct Answer:string,text or characters in quotes

text or characters in quotes

Q6.
What function is used to convert a value into a string in Python?

Correct Answer: str()

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the terms with examples:

Correct Answer:decomposition,dividing a task into smaller steps

dividing a task into smaller steps

Correct Answer:flowchart,using symbols to show program logic

using symbols to show program logic

Correct Answer:algorithm,describing steps in a solution to a problem

describing steps in a solution to a problem

Correct Answer:planning,creating a design before coding

creating a design before coding

Q2.
Arrange the steps for decomposition:

1 - identify the main problem
2 - divide it into smaller tasks
3 - solve each smaller task
4 - combine the solutions

Q3.
What does a flowchart help programmers do?

write code faster
test the program automatically
avoid errors completely
Correct answer: understand the flow of a program

Q4.
What is a way to describe the steps of an algorithm using structured, plain language?

Correct Answer: pseudocode, pseudo-code

Q5.
What does a flowchart typically include?

only text explanations
Correct answer: symbols and arrows to show steps
a list of variables
a program’s output

Q6.
Why is planning important before starting to code?

planning is unnecessary and wastes time
Correct answer: planning builds a strong foundation for better and faster coding
planning makes coding more difficult
planning only applies to large projects