Cooking Up Your First Algorithm

Frustrated with students who struggle to grasp algorithmic logic before they even touch code? This session offers a high-impact solution! We introduce the “Algorithmic Flowchart Unit,” a low-floor curriculum that tackles algorithmic thinking and control structures using visual, tactile methods. Attendees will learn how to leverage manipulative flowcharts—physical component templates—to help ninth-graders create and analyze algorithms for diverse scenarios. Students physically model logic that requires sequencing, selection, and iteration. The unit culminates with the Recipe Flowchart Project, where students translate...