☰ خطة العام · تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات (بالإنجليزية)

Programs that help, steps that solve

الأسبوع 23 · المحور الرابع «مشروعات برمجية»، الدرسان ١ و٢ «المستكشف النشط» و«مهارات حل المشكلات» · 3 دروس
3

Break big problems into small tasks

ICT P4 Term 2, Theme 4: pp. 44–53
GoalBreak a big problem into small tasks and share them out in a group.
New words
task · a small, clear piece of workbreak down · to turn something big into small partsgroup · a number of people working togetherteamwork · everyone helping to reach one goal
Explanation

Big problems can seem very hard, like a huge tray of basbousa: you do not eat it in one bite, you cut it into pieces. In the same way, we break a big problem into small tasks and solve them one after another. Imagine your teacher asks your class to organise a book fair. That is big! Break it down: choose the day, make the posters, collect the books, arrange the tables, write the rules. Then work as a group: each person takes a small part. Do the parts you can do now, step by step, and the big problem gets solved. This method also works for big computer problems, such as writing a long report.

Small taskWho does it
Choose the day and timeFarida
Make the postersKarim
Collect the booksNour
Arrange the tablesMina
Worked examples
sunny placesoilseedlingswatering plan
The big problem: plant a class garden. The small tasks: choose a sunny place, prepare the soil, plant the seedlings, write a watering timetable.
topicnotesoutlinewritingchecking
Karim must write a report in five parts. He breaks it down: choose the topic, take notes, make the outline, write the sections, check the spelling.
small tasksmall tasksmall taskproblem solved
Two children finish their tasks early and help the others. When all the small tasks are done, the big problem is solved.
Class activity

Break it down. Choose a big job, such as a class party or a trip to the park. Write the big problem at the top of a sheet and five small tasks below it, numbered in a sensible order. Then, in a group of four children, give each child one task.

Practice
1
Why do we break a big problem into small tasks?
2
Give two small tasks for organising a class book fair.
3
Order the tasks for writing a report: A write the sections, B choose the topic, C check the spelling, D take notes.
4
A group of four is solving a big problem. How can they share the work?