Technologies · Year 2

Active learning ideas

Conditional Choices: If/Then Statements

Active learning works for conditionals because students need to physically experience how a decision changes the next step. Moving objects, acting out roles, and testing rules with tools like robots or cards make the abstract logic visible and memorable.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9TDI2W01

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 30 min · Pairs

Unplugged: Conditional Card Sort

Prepare cards with conditions like 'if sunny' and actions like 'play outside.' Students in pairs draw a sequence of action cards, insert one conditional, then act it out with props. Pairs swap and predict outcomes before testing. Discuss how the conditional changes the flow.

Explain how a 'if/then' rule changes the flow of a sequence.

Facilitation Tip

During Conditional Card Sort, remind students to read each condition aloud before placing the matching action to reinforce the connection between the two parts.

What to look for

Give students a picture of a simple maze. Ask them to write one 'if/then' rule to help a character move through the maze. For example: 'If there is a path forward, then move forward.'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 40 min · Small Groups

Robot Paths: Bee-Bot Conditionals

Set up a floor mat with zones marked 'wet' or 'dry.' Program Bee-Bots with if/then rules like 'if wet zone, then turn right.' Small groups test paths, record successes, and adjust for obstacles. Share one fix with the class.

Construct a simple conditional statement to solve a given problem.

Facilitation Tip

In Robot Paths: Bee-Bot Conditionals, have students record their path plans on paper first so they can compare their predicted routes with the robot’s actual movement.

What to look for

Present students with a set of colored blocks. Ask them to create an 'if/then' rule to sort the blocks. For example: 'If the block is blue, then put it in the blue bin.' Observe if students can correctly identify a condition and a corresponding action.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Role Play
• 35 min · individual then pairs

Block Coding: Scratch Jr Choices

In Scratch Jr, students create a character that moves straight but triggers 'if touch blue, then jump' for a game. Individuals build, test on tablets, then pair to swap and playtest. Note what happens without the conditional.

Evaluate the impact of different conditions on the outcome of a process.

Facilitation Tip

For Block Coding: Scratch Jr Choices, model how to test a single if/then block in isolation before adding more to avoid overwhelming students.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Imagine you are programming a robot to clean your room. What is one 'if/then' rule you would give it? What happens if the condition is not met?' Discuss how changing the condition changes what the robot does.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 04

• Role Play
• 25 min · Whole Class

Class Game: If/Then Simon Says

Play Simon Says with conditionals like 'if you have brown hair, then hop twice.' Whole class follows, then small groups invent and lead new rounds. Vote on clearest rules and test for fairness.

Explain how a 'if/then' rule changes the flow of a sequence.

Facilitation Tip

During If/Then Simon Says, pause after each round to ask students which rules were triggered and which were skipped.

What to look for

Give students a picture of a simple maze. Ask them to write one 'if/then' rule to help a character move through the maze. For example: 'If there is a path forward, then move forward.'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach conditionals by starting with real-world rules students already know, like traffic lights or sorting games. Avoid introducing variables too soon; focus first on clear yes/no checks. Research shows that physical manipulation and peer discussion help students internalize how conditionals create branches in algorithms.

Successful learning looks like students identifying clear conditions, pairing them with specific actions, and demonstrating how the process changes when the condition is true or false. They should confidently explain why some steps happen and others do not.

---

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Conditional Card Sort, watch for students who place actions without verifying the condition first.

  Ask students to read each condition aloud and point to the matching action, explaining why it fits. If they hesitate, prompt them to test a few examples with the cards to see if the rule holds.

• During Robot Paths: Bee-Bot Conditionals, watch for students who assume the robot will always follow a fixed path regardless of conditions.

  Have students write the robot’s starting position and the condition on paper, then predict where it will go. Run the program twice: once with the condition true and once false to show the branch.

• During Block Coding: Scratch Jr Choices, watch for students who treat the if/then block like a regular step and ignore the condition.

  Pause the class and demonstrate testing the block with different inputs. Ask students to change the condition and observe how the sprite’s behavior changes.

---

Methods used in this brief

• Role Play