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Year 1

Programming using command blocks

I can choose a command for a given purpose.

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New
New
Year 1

Programming using command blocks

I can choose a command for a given purpose.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A command is an instruction that you use to control something.
  2. Commands must be dragged into the programming area so that they can be carried out.
  3. Some commands can be used to move a sprite.

Keywords

  • Animation - a moving picture with actions made by using step-by-step commands

  • Command - an instruction you use to control something

  • Sprite - a graphic object that can be controlled by a program

Common misconception

Commands can be used wherever they are found in the program you are using.

Commands must be dragged into the programming area so that they can be carried out otherwise the program will not know which object they need to be applied to.


To help you plan your year 1 computing lesson on: Programming using command blocks, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Demonstrate the actions within the programming app you are using yourself. Pupils benefit from seeing the physical operations that need to be performed when creating programs and this is not always obvious through a slideshow.
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equipment-required

Equipment

Children will need access to a tablet device with the ScratchJr app installed.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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4 Questions

Q1.
In a program, what does the undo tool do?
Correct answer: fixes mistakes
makes mistakes
shrinks mistakes
Q2.
How do you choose something on a tablet screen?
talk to it with your voice
Correct answer: tap on it with a finger
use a mouse
Q3.
If you want to create artwork on a computer, you would use:
the volume controls
the clock
Correct answer: the painting program
Q4.
What should you do to move something on a tablet screen?
turn the tablet upside down
Correct answer: tap and drag with your finger
shake the tablet

4 Questions

Q1.
What do we call the place where we make a sprite move by adding blocks?
the stage
Correct answer: the programming area
the home button
Q2.
What is this called in ScratchJr?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: sprite
game
stage
Q3.
The __________ is where you find the blocks to make a sprite move.
stage
programming area
Correct answer: blocks palette
Q4.
Where does the sprite move around?
the programming area
Correct answer: the stage
the blocks palette
Q2 Scratch Foundation under CC BY-SA 2.0