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Coding · Grade 5

Variables, Types and Input

Fifth graders learn the main data types (whole and decimal numbers, text and Booleans), see how + adds numbers but joins text, handle user input that arrives as text by converting it with NUMBER and TEXT, and choose sensible types and names when designing a program's data.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 90 minutes
  • Types and input check: 8 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, trace code, highlight a text, match pairs, type a number and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Identify data types: whole numbers, decimal numbers, text (strings) and Booleans.
  • Predict results that depend on type, such as "5" + "5" joining to 55 while 5 + 5 adds to 10.
  • Convert typed input to a number before doing arithmetic, and convert numbers to text to join them to words.
  • Choose a sensible type and name for each piece of a program's data.

Lessons

  1. Types of data 4 steps2 practiceabout 16 min
  2. Types change results 5 steps3 practiceabout 16 min
  3. Input is text 5 steps3 practiceabout 17 min
  4. Choose types and names 5 steps2 practiceabout 15 min
  5. Types and input 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.
  • Sorting FactoryTurn a work order into if/else rules and watch the conveyor sort every item.

More 5th grade coding

Guide for grown-ups