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PlayOwl

Coding · Grade 2

Create a Simple Puzzle

Second graders become puzzle designers for Bolt the robot. They plan a puzzle (start, pad, hedges, gems and a goal), check it is solvable and find its par (the fewest blocks), tune it to be harder or easier, and test it with a player, using feedback to improve it.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 75 minutes
  • Puzzle design check: 8 questions
  • Ways to answer: program with blocks, choose an answer, match pairs, type a number, put in order and sort into groups
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Plan a robot puzzle with a start, a pad, hedges, gems and a clear goal for the player.
  • Check that a puzzle can be solved and find its par, the fewest blocks a solution needs.
  • Make a puzzle harder or easier on purpose by changing the map, the gems, the blocks or the block limit.
  • Test a puzzle with a player and improve it using their feedback.

Lessons

  1. Plan a puzzle 5 steps3 practiceabout 15 min
  2. Is it solvable? 5 steps3 practiceabout 16 min
  3. Make it harder or easier 5 steps3 practiceabout 15 min
  4. Test with a player 6 steps2 practiceabout 14 min
  5. Puzzle design check 8 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Robot RoutesSnap together arrow, repeat and dance blocks to guide Bolt the robot home.
  • Bug DetectiveA robot program almost works. Run it, spot the buggy block, and fix it.
  • Mini-Game StudioMake a tiny game with rule blocks, test-play it, and share it once it can be won.

More 2nd grade coding

Guide for grown-ups