Lesson Plan for Words Fix and Apply

Lesson Objective

To learn what a syntax error is and how to correct them.

Success Criteria

• I can understand that a character is represented by a number
• I can understand that a string is a sequence of characters strung together
• I can understand the patterns to create and print a string using Go
• I can understand what a syntax error is and how to fix it
• I can find and correct mistakes in fmt.Println and fmt.Print statements in Go

Key Vocabulary

• character
• string
• rune
• Unicode
• encoding
• output
• symbol
• statement
• edit
• syntax error

Period of Study

KS2 Emerging

NC Computing links

Co2/1.1 design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts

Co2/1.2 use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output

Co2/1.3 use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs

Cross Curricular Links

English - writing and reading.

SMSC

???

Resources/Homework

Unicode Table website can display all of the printable Unicode characters.

Starter Activity

• Recap that every letter in every language is given a unique number. The computer works with these numbers not the letters.
• Show the pupils a letter. Can then guess the number?
• Show the pupils a number. Can they guess that the number might represent a letter? Can they guess that it might just be a number too?
• Can they remember what a rune is?
• Use the Unicode table website as required.

Main teaching points

• Show the pupils the pattern for a string literal in Go. A string enclosed in inverted commas.
• Show the pupils the pattern for a Print and Println statement in Go. The pattern starts fmt.Print or fmt.Println. The pattern always has two brackets. The string is always between the brackets.
• Explain that when the patterns are not followed that Go produces a syntax error. A program that contains syntax errors will not run until all of the syntax errors are fixed.
• Challenge the class to count and correct the syntax errors in the badstring program. First on paper then on the computer.
• Challenge the class to extend the corrected program to add both Print and Println lines, working backwards from the expected output.

Main Activity

For High Achievers

The pupils should understand that a character is represented as a number.

The pupils should recognise the pattern used for a string in Go without support.

The pupils should recognise the pattern to print a string in Go. With or without a new line, without support.

The pupils should understand what a syntax error, what the cause of the error is and how to correct it.

The pupils should understand that the program will not run until all syntax errors are fixed.

The pupils may be able to use the error messages displayed by Go to help them find and correct the syntax errors.

The pupils should be able to find and correct the syntax errors in the badstring largely without support.

The pupils should be able to extend the badstring program to match the example output by adding Print and Println statements, largely without support.

For Middle Achievers

The pupils should understand that a character is represented as a number.

The pupils should recognise the pattern used for a string in Go without support.

The pupils should recognise the pattern to print a string in Go. With or without a new line, without support.

The pupils should understand what a syntax error is, and perhaps what the cause of the error is and how to correct it.

The pupils should understand that the program will not run until all syntax errors are fixed.

The pupils should be able to find and correct the syntax errors in the badstring with support.

The pupils should be able to extend the badstring program to match the example output by adding Print and Println statements, with support.

For Low Achievers

The pupils should understand that a character is represented as a number.

The pupils should recognise the pattern used for a string in Go with support.

The pupils should recognise the pattern to print a string in Go. With or without a new line, with support.

The pupils should understand what a syntax error is and that a program that contains syntax errors will not run.

The pupils should be able to find and correct the syntax errors in the badstring with considerable support.

The pupils should be able to extend the badstring program to match the example output by adding Print and Println statements, with considerable support.

Plenary

Can the pupils spot syntax errors when using fmt.Print and fmt.Println? Can they explain the difference bwtween fmt.Print and fmt.Println? Can the pupils write down the output of a sequence of fmt.Print and fmt.Println lines?