Introduction

Little Turtle can be used to teach a small aspect of programming (sequential steps) to elementary school students (kindergarten, 1st grade, ...).

Which Commands To Teach?

For younger students use the simpler, limited move, left, and right commands. After learning to use them, introduce the up, down, color, size, and home commands one at a time.

For students that are learning about coordinate systems, use the XY and/or Bearing commands. After learning to use them, introduced the up, down, color, size, home, and circle commands one at a time.

For the middle students, teach the standard move, left and right commands. After learning to use them, introduced the up, down, color, size, home, and circle commands one at a time.

Cheatsheet

The cheatsheet can be projected on a screen while the students are working with Little Turtle. This make the information available and does not require handouts.

1. Little Turtle Interface

Demonstrate and practice the interface buttons. When Little Turtle startup there is an initial "M 4" command in the command area. This can be used when demonstrating and practicing the button actions.

First:

• Run
• Reset
• Grid
• Turtle

Second:

• Clear
• Help (This can be postponed for the younger students. Displaying the cheatsheet may be enough.)

Note: Help will require learning to use the browser back button and/or switching between tabs. The "help" image button opens the help page in a new window. The "help" text button open the help page in the original window.

2. Change Focus

Switch the focus between the interface buttons and the command area.

3. Basic Keyboard Layout and Keys

• Where are the commands characters on the keyboard?
• Backspace and arrow keys
• Space bar

Keyboard Layout

4. Practice Using the Keyboard and Text Editing

Little Turtle Keyboard Practice

Little Turtle Text Editing Practice

The keyboard and mouse are used together to edit text.

• Use the arrow and backspace keys to locate and edit text.
• Use the cursor to jump around in the text.
• Enter text using the keyboard.
• Cut and paste. (this can be skipped for the younger students.)

5. Create and Run Command Sequences

Little Turtle is designed to build a command sequence a few commands at a time.

1. Enter one or two commands.
2. Run the commands.
3. Correct the commands or add new commands.
4. Reset.
5. Got to step 2.

Commands

• Move (Steps)
• Left/Right directions (1-6)
• Left/Right directions (0)
• Up/Down
• Color/Size
• Home

Draw Shapes

• Simple Shapes
  • Straight lines
  • Left/right turn directions
  • Change line color
  • Change line size
• Examples are available

6. "Draw These Shapes" Challenge