This lesson is called dice race. Almost everyone likes to play computer games. Have you ever
thought about how computer programmers turn the steps of a game into a program? The first
step in creating computer games and in solving any problem requires thinking and planning.
The thinking step of problem solving produces an algorithm, which is a step by step plan
for solving a problem or finishing a task. In this lesson, you'll create an algorithm
for a dice race game. Then you'll ask your friends to try out your plan to see if they
can follow the steps to play the game. After the programmer is sure the steps are correct,
it's time to translate the algorithm into a program with language that the computer
can understand. Almost everything we do every day requires an algorithm, a list of steps
you can follow to finish a task. Think about getting ready for school or planning a fun
day with your friends or fixing a snack. To complete any of those tasks, you'll need to
break it down into smaller steps and sometimes the steps must be in a specific order. Think
about making a sandwich. It doesn't matter which ingredient you get out of the cabinet
first. But you can't spread the peanut butter until you open the jar. Computers need algorithms
and programs to show them how to do even simple things that we can do without thinking about
it. An algorithm is the thinking behind what needs to happen while the program is the actual
instructions given to the computer to make it happen. An algorithm has to be translated
into a program before a computer can run it. Breaking a task into steps called an algorithm
is sometimes difficult. But like any new skill, it gets easier and easier with practice.