English National Curriculum:
Key Stage 2
Tooltip content
TO USE sequences, selections and repetition in programs.
learning objectives
Tooltip content
to identify and understand a repeating pattern.
success criteria
- I can recognise a repeating pattern in an order.
- I can recognise the number of repetitions of a repeating pattern in an order.
- I can execute a program written as a repeating pattern and the number of repetition times.
- I can solve problems using loops.
top tips
- A repeating pattern is a part of an order that is repeated more than once.
- The number of repetitions is the time that a repeating pattern has been duplicated.
- Using a repeating pattern and number of repetitions will simplify the solution to a problem.
Common misconceptions
- A repeating pattern does not have to be the same all of the time, it can sometimes change.
- Repeating patterns always stay the same. Every repeat is identical.
Sequences
Loops
A sequence is a basic algorithm in computer programing. It is a set of logical steps carried out in order. Actions in a sequence are like steps in the right order.
A loop is a sequence of instructions that is continually repeated until a certain condition is reached.
TOPIC BACKGROUND READING
Loops are among the most basic and powerful of programming concepts. A loop in a computer program is an instruction that repeats until a specified condition is reached. In a loop structure, the loop asks a question. If the answer requires action, it is executed. The same question is asked again and again until no further action is required. Each time the question is asked is called an iteration.
A computer programmer who uses or calls the same lines of code many times in a program can use a loop to save space and time. There are many forms of loops that are used for different scenarios.
The most basic concept of a loop is to repeat a set of actions a number of times until the criteria has been filled. Given our example of eating food, you would loop through the same actions until all the food was finished. There are many examples of loops in the world around us, and these can also be expressed as a flowchart of repeating actions.
