Decomposing Tasks
Computing: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 3.1.2
Computational Thinking with Cupcakes
Decomposing is a method used in computational thinking. It means breaking a big task into smaller tasks.
Decomposing: example
- Imagine telling your friends how to make cupcakes for a party.
- If you just say, ‘make the cupcakes’, they might get confused.
- Everyone might do it differently
Decomposing gives the steps
- There are different parts to making cupcakes:
- Make the batter.
- Make the icing.
- Bake the cakes.
- Add the toppings.
- Each of these tasks can be decomposed into logical steps.
Steps
- The steps must be clear.
- The steps must be in the right order.
- The steps must be clear and repeatable so you get the same results every time.
- The steps and rules that are followed are called an algorithm.
Algorithms
- Think of an algorithm like the steps in the recipe for the cupcakes.
Test yourself on Decomposing Tasks
After you have decomposed a task (such as baking a cake), what are you left with?
In an algorithm, what order must the steps be done in to get the same results every time?
What is the name of the method used to break down a complex task down into smaller chunks?
How should the steps in an algorithm be