Computing · Year 5

Active learning ideas

Problem Solving with Flowcharts

Active learning works well for teaching flowcharts because students need to see how abstract symbols represent real decisions. When children physically map their own routines or games, the logic becomes visible and meaningful beyond the screen.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS2: Computing - Programming and Algorithms

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Collaborative Problem-Solving
• 30 min · Pairs

Pairs Activity: Morning Routine Flowchart

Pairs list steps for getting ready for school, then draw a flowchart using symbols for sequence, decisions like 'Is it raining?', and loops if needed. Partners swap and follow the flowchart step-by-step, noting any gaps or confusions. Discuss improvements together before redrawing.

Explain how a flowchart helps to visualize the steps of an algorithm.

Facilitation Tip

During the Pairs Activity, circulate and ask each pair to explain one branch of their flowchart aloud to ensure clarity.

What to look for

Provide students with a simple everyday problem, such as 'Making a cup of tea'. Ask them to draw a flowchart with at least one decision symbol to solve it. Check for correct use of start/end, process, and decision symbols, and logical flow.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 02

• Collaborative Problem-Solving
• 45 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Flowchart Detective Challenge

Provide groups with three flawed sample flowcharts for tasks like making toast. Groups identify errors such as missing decisions or endless loops, suggest fixes, and redraw improved versions. Each group presents one to the class for whole-class vote on clarity.

Design a flowchart to solve a simple everyday problem.

Facilitation Tip

For the Flowchart Detective Challenge, give groups exactly five minutes to find errors before discussion to build urgency and focus.

What to look for

Students work in pairs to design a flowchart for packing a school bag. After completion, they swap flowcharts. Each student writes down one question about their partner's flowchart, such as 'What happens if the book is too heavy?' or 'Is there a step missing?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Collaborative Problem-Solving
• 40 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Interactive Game Flowchart

Build a class flowchart on the board or interactive whiteboard for a game like 'Guess the Number'. Students suggest symbols and paths in turn; teacher draws as class tests by simulating plays. Revise live based on failures to show iteration.

Critique the clarity and completeness of a given flowchart.

Facilitation Tip

In the Interactive Game Flowchart, stop the class at the first branching point and ask volunteers to justify the yes/no arrows using their own words.

What to look for

Display a pre-made flowchart on the board that has a deliberate error (e.g., a missing arrow, an incorrect symbol). Ask students to identify the error and explain why it is incorrect, using the correct flowchart terminology.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Collaborative Problem-Solving
• 35 min · Individual

Individual: Personal Problem Solver

Each student designs a flowchart for a personal choice, like selecting a snack. They test it solo by acting it out, then pair with a neighbour to critique and refine. Share one strong example per pair with the class.

Explain how a flowchart helps to visualize the steps of an algorithm.

What to look for

Provide students with a simple everyday problem, such as 'Making a cup of tea'. Ask them to draw a flowchart with at least one decision symbol to solve it. Check for correct use of start/end, process, and decision symbols, and logical flow.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Use a gradual release model: model a simple flowchart live, then guide students to co-construct one together before they work independently. Avoid overwhelming students with too many symbol types at once; introduce diamonds for decisions only after they are comfortable with rectangles and arrows. Research shows that tracing and debugging others’ flowcharts deepens understanding more than creating from scratch alone.

By the end of the activities, students will use standard symbols correctly, include decisions and loops where needed, and explain how their flowcharts solve problems step by step. They will also spot missing or unclear steps in others’ work.

---

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Pairs Activity, watch for pairs creating linear flowcharts that lack decision diamonds for weather choices.

  Prompt pairs to act out their morning routine twice: once for sunny and once for rainy. Ask them to point to the step where the weather changes their path, then add a diamond symbol labeled ‘Is it sunny?’ right before that step.

• During the Flowchart Detective Challenge, watch for groups adding unnecessary details like ‘open the pencil case’ inside every branch.

  Hand out a sample flowchart with every step written out. Have groups circle the two most critical steps that change based on the weather and cross out the rest, then redraw with just those steps.

• During the Interactive Game Flowchart, watch for students thinking flowcharts only apply to computers.

  After the game simulation, ask students to name another human process that needs branches, like crossing the street. Have them draw a one-minute flowchart for that process on mini-whiteboards.

---

Methods used in this brief

• Collaborative Problem-Solving