Computing · Stage 3

Loops that Repeat

Thinking It Through · a loop repeats steps for you — even a whole group of steps, again and again

✦ Computing📘 Stage 3 · S3⏱ ~11 min🧒 Ages 7–8★ Free to start

I can use loops to repeat steps

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Kavi's Three Hungry Chicks

Kavi had three hungry chicks to feed, and each one needed the same two steps: hop to the nest, then drop in a seed. "I don't want to write that six times!" Kavi hooted. So Kavi made a loop: repeat 3 times: hop to the nest · drop a seed. The loop ran the two steps over and over — hop-drop, hop-drop, hop-drop — until every chick was fed. "A loop repeats steps for me," said Kavi, "and it can repeat a whole group of steps, not just one!"

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What your child will learn

1A loop can repeat more than one stepThe repeat line is the loop. The indented steps are its body — and the body can be two or more steps. Every turn of the loop runs them all. Press Run and watch Kavi feed 3 chicks with one little loop.

2Same steps repeated, or all different?A loop helps when the same step or group of steps repeats. If every step is different, a loop can't shorten it. Tap the right box for each plan.

3How many actions will this loop do?A good coder counts the loop before pressing Run. The body has 2 steps, and the loop repeats 4 times. Work it out, then reveal.

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A peek inside

Kavi's loop says repeat 5 times: ring the bell. How many rings happen in all?

the body 'ring the bell' is 1 step, run 5 times

Try this at home: A loop lets you ____ a step, or a whole group of steps, instead of writing them again and again.

Ready to play and learn?

Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

Start the free lesson →⬇ Download PDF

Part of Computing · Stage 3 · S3 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.