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Lesson 1: Building Flowcharts
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Flowchart symbols
Start / End
Step
Decision
Input / Output

1 Sequence: Making Toast

Every algorithm needs steps in the right order. Tap a shape below, then tap the slot where it belongs.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

Think about what you’d actually do, in order: put the bread in first, and you can’t spread butter before the toast pops up!

2 Sequence: Brushing Your Teeth

Another sequence: the steps must happen in the right order. Tap a shape below, then tap the slot where it belongs.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

Start with the toothbrush in your hand. Toothpaste goes on before you brush, and you spit before you rinse.

3 Sequence: Making a Sandwich

Another sequence: the steps must happen in the right order. Tap a shape below, then tap the slot where it belongs.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

You need the bread first. Butter goes on one slice before the cheese, and the cutting comes last.

4 Sequence: Logging In

Another sequence: the steps must happen in the right order. Tap a shape below, then tap the slot where it belongs.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

The computer has to be on and ready before you can type anything. The username comes before the password, and clicking login is the final step.

5 Selection: Is It Raining?

Flowcharts can also make decisions. A decision shape always has two paths out of it: Yes and No.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
YES
tap here
NO
tap here
↓
tap to place
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

There’s one extra shape in the bank that doesn’t belong anywhere — ignore it. Both YES and NO lead to the same last step before End.

6 Iteration: Password Check

Sometimes a NO answer doesn’t lead to the end — it leads back to an earlier question, so it can be asked again. This is called iteration, or a loop.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
YES
tap here
NO
tap here
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

Only YES should reach the End — getting the password wrong should send you back to try again, not finish the program.

Challenge

7 Two Decisions: Number Checker

Question: A program asks the user to enter a number. If it is bigger than 10, show “Big number!” If it is bigger than 5, show “Medium number!” Otherwise show “Small number!”

This flowchart has two decisions. If the first answer is NO, the flowchart asks a second question.

Shape selected — now tap a slot to place it.
Start
↓
tap to place
↓
tap to place
↓
YES
tap here
NO
tap here
↓
YES
tap here
NO
tap here
↓
End
Still stuck? Tap here

There are two decision diamonds. The first asks about 10. The second, on the NO path, asks about 5. One shape in the bank does not belong anywhere — ignore it.

Challenge

8 Design your own: Quiz Question

Question: Design a flowchart for a single quiz question. Ask the user to type an answer. If it’s correct, show “Correct!” and end. If it’s wrong, tell them and let them try again — keep asking until they get it right.

Build it the same way: tap a shape to add it, tap the text to edit it.

Tap a shape above to start building
Need ideas? Tap here

This one needs a loop, like Task 6. Add a note in a step saying which question it should go back to.

What you learned in this lesson

  • Sequence: steps that happen one after another in order
  • Selection: a decision shape with two paths, YES and NO
  • Iteration: a loop, where a NO path can lead back to an earlier question instead of the end
  • Every flowchart starts with Start and finishes with End
Helpful?