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Searching algorithms (unit)

Beginner robot Difficulty 1/5 Screen-free lesson Stop 7 / 19 ages 5-7

A CS Unplugged unit with several hands-on, screen-free lessons about searching algorithms.

For a grown-up to do with a child.

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Your guide

AI-written overview

What is it?

Searching algorithms (unit) is part of a CS Unplugged unit about how computers find things in a list. You play guessing games with number cards and find out why putting things in order makes finding them faster.

Is it for me?

It is for children about 5-7 and up who like games and guessing, with a grown-up or teacher. No computer is needed. It is a Beginner activity.

Grown-ups: change the numbers to match what your child is learning in maths, and keep another game ready for fast finishers.

How to start

  1. Make number cards, or print the sheets from the lesson page.
  2. Play the finding game and count how many guesses you need.
  3. Try again with the cards in order, and compare.

How much time?

Most lessons take 30 to 45 minutes. Plan about 15 minutes for a session. (estimate)

15 min per session 2 sessions estimate

A plan you can follow

  1. Day 1 30 min Play the hide-and-find game with cards in no order.
  2. Day 2 30 min Play again with the cards in order.
  3. Week 1 45 min Compare your guess counts and chart them.
  4. Week 2 30 min Invent a new searching game.

Times are estimates. Go at your own speed.

Go to the learning site

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Go to the learning site (opens the original site in a new tab)

https://www.csunplugged.org/en/topics/searching-algorithms/

On this site. From the list: uccser/cs-unplugged · License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 · CS Unplugged: Searching algorithms

Lesson from CS Unplugged, University of Canterbury CSER Group, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes were made: translated and level-tagged by Open Cosmos, with AI. Shared under the same license.

Your path through Searching & sorting

Stop 5 Reinforcing numeracy through a Sorting Network Screen-free lesson Stop 6 Retelling a story Screen-free lesson Stop 7 Searching algorithms (unit) Screen-free lesson Stop 8 Sorting networks (unit) Screen-free lesson Stop 9 Divide and conquer Screen-free lesson Stop 10 Drama or video activity Screen-free lesson Stop 11 How many guesses? Screen-free lesson

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