← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

Keeping a problem simple

Breaking a big problem into smaller parts, so each part is simple enough to solve in a few steps. You can then choose one part to solve first.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 7, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Defining and decomposing problems — Module 5, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Defining and decomposing problems — Module 5

Understanding Keeping a problem simple in Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: The big problem is broken into three smaller parts that are easier to solve one at a time. After splitting a problem, you pick one small part to begin with, such as the rules. A simple problem can be solved in just a few steps. A whole game with 20 levels is too big to solve all at once. Choosing one part to start with keeps the work simple and clear. Planning every event has too many parts. A date button only needs a few steps.

Common mistakes: A part must be smaller than the big problem. 'Plan the whole fair' is the big problem again. It should be a small job like 'Make the posters'. A problem that takes only a few steps is simple and just right to solve. It should say 'so it is SIMPLE'.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–10) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning

Duo

Which problem is small enough to solve in a few steps?

Build a whole video game with 20 levelsMake a timer that counts down from 10

Matches

Problem: Fix everything about our school

↓

This problem is too big. It cannot be solved in a few steps, so it needs to be split into smaller parts, like fixing the bubbler queue.

Applying

Meanings

Term

decomposition

Meaning

Breaking a big problem into smaller parts, so each part is simple enough to solve in a few steps. You can then choose one part to solve first.

Practice

BIG PROBLEM: Plan a class party

Testing

Gaps

= split a big problem up

Check Answer

Spots

2PART 1: Choose the date

3PART 2: Plan the whole fair

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Quick Questions

1. Which problem is small enough to solve in a few steps?

A. Build a whole video game with 20 levels

B. Make a timer that counts down from 10 ✓

A simple problem can be solved in just a few steps. A whole game with 20 levels is too big to solve all at once.

2. What should you do with a problem that is too big?

A. Break it into smaller problems ✓

B. Try to solve it all at once

Breaking a big problem into smaller parts makes each part simple enough to solve.

3. A school wants an app to run the whole canteen. Which is a smaller part you could solve?

A. A screen to pick a drink ✓

B. Everything the canteen does

Picking a drink is one small part of the canteen app. 'Everything' is the big problem.

4. What is decomposition?

A. Breaking a big problem into smaller parts ✓

B. Making a problem bigger and harder

Decomposition means splitting a big problem into smaller, simpler parts.

5. You split a quiz game into: asking questions, scoring points and showing the winner. What have you done?

A. Solved the whole problem in one go

B. Split the problem into parts ✓

Each of the three jobs is a smaller part. You still need to solve each one.

Match the Pairs

decomposition → Breaking a big problem into smaller parts that are each simple to solve

Problem: Plan a school fair Part 1: Make posters → A big problem split into a smaller part to solve first

A big problem can be split into smaller parts → Big problem: Build a class game Parts: 1 Idea, 2 Rules, 3 Score

Choose one part to solve first → Start with: Part 2 Rules

Problem: Fix everything about our school → This problem is too big. It cannot be solved in a few steps, so it needs to be split into smaller parts, like fixing the bubbler queue.

Parts: 1 Pick a pet, 2 Pick a pet, 3 Pick a pet → The parts are all the same. Each part should be a different smaller problem, such as choose a pet, make a cage, plan feeding.

Key Term

decomposition

Breaking a big problem into smaller parts, so each part is simple enough to solve in a few steps. You can then choose one part to solve first.

Fill in the Blanks

1. decomposition = split a big problem up

Hint: Type the term for breaking a big problem into smaller parts.

2. BIG PROBLEM: Plan a class party SPLIT it into parts: food, music, games SOLVE food FIRST

Hint: Type the keyword that breaks the problem into smaller parts.

3. BIG PROBLEM: Plan a class party SPLIT it into: food, music, games SOLVE food FIRST

Hint: Type the word that says this part is solved before the others.

4. IF problem is too big THEN SPLIT it into smaller parts END IF

Hint: Type the size word that tells us a problem needs to be split.

5. part: Choose the music steps needed: 3 IF steps <= 5 THEN part is SIMPLE

Hint: Type the operator meaning less than or equal to.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A BIG: Plan a school fair

B PART 1: Choose the date

C PART 2: Plan the whole fair

D SOLVE FIRST: Part 1

Line C — A part must be smaller than the big problem. 'Plan the whole fair' is the big problem again. It should be a small job like 'Make the posters'.

Question 2

A TASK: Pour a glass of water

B 3 steps, so it is TOO BIG

C Just right: solve it now

Line B — A problem that takes only a few steps is simple and just right to solve. It should say 'so it is SIMPLE'.

Question 3

A BIG: Make a class newsletter

B PART 1: Write the stories

C PART 2: Take the photos

D SOLVE FIRST: all parts at once

Line D — After splitting a problem, you choose just ONE part to solve first. Doing every part at once makes it big again. It should be 'SOLVE FIRST: Part 1'.

Question 4

A BIG: Make a birthday card

B PART 1: Ride my bike

C PART 2: Write the message

D SOLVE FIRST: Part 1

Line B — Every part must belong to the big problem. Riding a bike has nothing to do with making a card. It should be a card job like 'Draw the picture'.

Question 5

A SIMPLE: Organise a class camp

B PART 1: Pick the place

C PART 2: Pack the bags

Line A — Organising a camp has many jobs, so it is a BIG problem that needs splitting. The line should start with 'BIG:', not 'SIMPLE:'.

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