Flowchart shapes: start, step and decision

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which shape shows where a flowchart starts?

A An oval with the word Start inside

B A diamond with the word Start inside

2. Which shape is used for a step like 'Add 1 to score'?

A A rectangle

B A diamond

3. Which shape is used for the question 'Is it raining?'

A A diamond

B A rectangle

4. What do the arrows in a flowchart show?

A How big each step is

B The order to follow the shapes

5. Which is the best text to put inside a decision diamond?

A Add 5 to the score

B Is the score over 10?

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1[Add 1 to count]		AA yes or no question is drawn in a rectangle. A rectangle is only for a step. Questions need a diamond.
2<Is it raining?>		BA rectangle: one step, or action, for the computer to do
3Arrows join the shapes and show the order to follow, from start to end		C(Start) --> [Ask name] --> (End)
4An input and output box shows information going into or coming out of the algorithm		DA diamond: a yes or no question that splits the path
5[Is it raining?]		E/Input: age/
6<Is it raining?> --> [Take umbrella]		FThe diamond has only one arrow coming out. A decision needs two arrows, one labelled Yes and one labelled No.

Definitions

flowchart

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Rectangle: Pack my bag ____: End

Oval: Start _________: Get a pencil Diamond: Is it sharp?

Oval: Start Rectangle: Get a pencil _______: Is it sharp?

Start __ Get a pencil -> Sharpen it

Diamond: Is it raining? Yes -> Take an umbrella __ -> Go outside

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A OVAL: Start

B RECTANGLE: Get a cup

C RECTANGLE: Fill the cup

D RECTANGLE: End

Question 2

A OVAL: Start

B RECTANGLE: Is it raining?

C RECTANGLE: Take umbrella

D OVAL: End

Question 3

A OVAL: Start

B ARROW: down

C DIAMOND: Pack bag

D ARROW: down

E OVAL: End

Question 4

A OVAL: Start

B PARALLELOGRAM: Input name

C OVAL: Output Hello

D OVAL: End

Question 5

A DIAMOND: Is it dark?

B YES ARROW: RECTANGLE Light on

C MAYBE ARROW: OVAL End

Answer Key

Flowchart shapes: start, step and decision

Section A: Quick Questions

A — An oval with the word Start inside

A — A rectangle

A — A diamond

B — The order to follow the shapes

B — Is the score over 10?

Section B: Match the Pairs

[Add 1 to count] → A rectangle: one step, or action, for the computer to do

<Is it raining?> → A diamond: a yes or no question that splits the path

Arrows join the shapes and show the order to follow, from start to end → (Start) --> [Ask name] --> (End)

An input and output box shows information going into or coming out of the algorithm → /Input: age/

[Is it raining?] → A yes or no question is drawn in a rectangle. A rectangle is only for a step. Questions need a diamond.

<Is it raining?> --> [Take umbrella] → The diamond has only one arrow coming out. A decision needs two arrows, one labelled Yes and one labelled No.

Section C: Definitions

flowchart — A diagram that uses an oval for start and end, a rectangle for a step and a diamond for a yes or no question, all joined by arrows that show the order.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Rectangle: Pack my bag
Oval: End

Oval: Start
Rectangle: Get a pencil
Diamond: Is it sharp?

Oval: Start
Rectangle: Get a pencil
Diamond: Is it sharp?

Start -> Get a pencil -> Sharpen it

Diamond: Is it raining?
Yes -> Take an umbrella
No -> Go outside

Section E: Spot the Error

D — The end of a flowchart is drawn as an oval, not a rectangle. It should be OVAL: End.

B — A yes or no question goes in a diamond, not a rectangle. It should be DIAMOND: Is it raining?

C — Packing a bag is a step, so it goes in a rectangle. A diamond is only for yes or no questions. It should be RECTANGLE: Pack bag.

C — Input and output use the slanted input/output box (parallelogram). An oval is only for start and end. It should be PARALLELOGRAM: Output Hello.

C — A diamond asks a yes or no question, so its arrows must be labelled YES and NO. There is no MAYBE arrow. It should be NO ARROW: OVAL End.