“Say Aaahhhh”
Flowchart
Lesson 2 of 3
Grade Level: 5-8
Subject(s): Language Arts, Technology, Mathematics
Prep Time: < 10 minutes
Activity Duration: One Class Period
Materials Category: None
National Education Standards
Science
Mathematics
5c,6a,18c,22a
Technology
ISTE
Geography
ITEA
3a, 17a
Objective: Write about a feedback loop encountered during the day using a flowchart
diagram.
Materials:
•
None
Related Links:
NASA Site used for Lesson plan
Technology Education
Yale-New Haven Teacher Institute
Supporting NASAexplores Article(s):
“Say Aaahhhh”
http://www.nasaexplores.com/show2_articlea.php?id=01-012
“Say Aaahhhh”
Flowchart
Teacher Sheets
Background Information
Flow-charting is used to diagram a process on paper to make it easier to visualize.
Flow-charting can be useful in a variety of applications ranging from computer
programming to solving mathematic problems. Simple computer logic problems can
be written this way and then turned into the code that a sensor uses. Students will
begin to see the complexity that is involved to make a system that monitors itself and
makes decisions.
Guidelines
The students will use the following basic flowchart symbols:
•
•
•
•
The rectangle—shows some action that is taken
The oval—the start and end boxes
The diamond—decision or question boxes
Arrows—used to direct flow through the chart
The students will utilize these symbols to try and describe a couple of everyday
processes.
1. Read the article "Say Aaahhhh."
Discuss how a human would
observe the temperature change
in an engine and what would
cause him/her to make the
decision to shut the engine
down. A human would observe a
thermometer and when the
temperature reached a certain
point, they would decide that it
was too hot. Computerized
sensors would work the same
way to make decisions, by
observing and making choices
based on those observations.
Explain that the computer would
follow a flowchart to make its
decision. Go over the symbols
on a flowchart and work with the
students to fill in the flowchart
that shows the process used to
play a tape on the VCR.
2. Have the students construct their
own flowchart describing some
everyday process. For example:
buying a can of soda from a
machine, cooking a simple
dinner, deciding what clothes to
wear to school, opening a locker,
etc.
[Hint: It might be helpful for
students to cut out the shapes for
a flowchart so they can easily
rearrange the steps, or add
missing steps, and put it all together.]
3. Discuss designing a flowchart that could be used to solve a mathematics
problem. Have them create a flowchart that would answer the following
question.
Mr. Jones buys six water bottles at a store. Each water bottle costs $3.27. He
paid with a $20 bill. How much change does he receive?
4. Ask the students if they could change their charts to answer any problem that
is stated like the one above. Could they construct a flowchart to answer any
type of word problem?
Discussion / Wrap-Up
Talk about the importance of providing all the steps to a computer. If a step is left
out, the computer will not be able to complete its task correctly. Also talk about the
importance of simplicity. The students should have discovered how quickly a
flowchart could become too complex to follow, especially if they have to write out
and describe every step. Point out that when the VCR flowchart was completed,
several steps were left off, such as plugging the TV and VCR in, finding the correct
tape, connecting the TV and VCR together, as well as numerous other steps.
Extensions
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•
Put together a flowchart that would allow a robot to find its way from the
school to some local landmark.
Create a flowchart showing how to play a simple game like tic-tac-toe
(hopefully a winning strategy).
Draw a flowchart describing a web site flow (home page, secondary pages,
etc.). (This could be a school web site where there is a home page that
branches to pages for each grade level, which branches to pages for each
classroom.)
“Say Aaahhhh”
Flowchart
Student Sheets
Objective
Write about a feedback loop encountered during the day using a flowchart diagram.
Materials
•
None
Procedure
1. Complete the flowchart on the
right describing the sequence of
steps needed to watch a VCR
tape.
2. Be sure to include all the steps
listed below:
• Start
• End
• Watch tape
• Place Video Tape in
VCR
• Change to Channel 3
• Is tape rewound?
• Press Play
• Turn on VCR and TV
• Is TV on channel 3?
• Rewind the tape
[Hints:
oval - start and end boxes
rectangle - shows action
taken
diamond - decision or
question]
3. Now construct your own flowchart that diagrams an event that would take
place during your daily routine. Make sure you provide all the information
needed to complete the chart. Expand the chart if needed.
4. Use a flowchart to answer a word problem that your teacher will give you.
Make sure you chart all the steps.