Description

🧭 Left, Right, Up, Down: Unplugged Coding Stories

Introduce foundational coding skills with these story-based, screen-free activities designed for Grades 2–4. Students listen to engaging read-aloud stories, follow directional cues, and map their paths across a 5×5 grid using Left, Right, Up, and Down movements. Each story blends spatial reasoning, listening comprehension, sequencing, and algorithmic thinking into a fun, low-prep lesson.

Students can draw their path directly on the grid, use the arrow recording lines underneath, or move a small marker to track each step. This pack works beautifully for centers, whole-group modeling, RTI support, or sub days.

Activity Time

~10–15 minutes per story
Flexible for warm-ups, centers, or multi-activity rotations

Students Will Practice:

-Following step-by-step directions
-Strengthening listening comprehension
-Understanding directional movement on a grid
-Developing basic algorithmic thinking
-Building spatial reasoning
-Tracking sequences using arrows or visual movement
-Working independently or collaboratively

What’s Included:

-5 fully illustrated coding stories with printable grids
-Direction tracker lines under each grid for arrow notation
-Answer keys showing the correct ending location (star)
-Clear teacher instructions and implementation tips
-Optional ideas for modeling with bingo chips, counters, or markers
-Engaging themes: vacations, snow adventures, beach days, and more

How It Works:

1. Teacher reads a story that includes step-by-step directional prompts.
2. Students listen carefully and follow the instructions using the grid provided.
3. They can: draw the path from start to finish with a pencil, write arrows (↑ ↓ → ←) on the recording lines, or move a marker (like a bingo chip) across the grid.

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