Sorting Algorithms

Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Daisy Coding Basics badge requirements.

Items Needed:

A set of Sorting Algorithm Cards

Instructions:

Algorithms can be written to help sort items. What steps do we take when we sort things? We need to know what we are sorting the items by. Color? Shape? The algorithm could be to examine each piece and place big ones in Box 1 and small ones in Box 2. If it was by color, we would need more boxes and each would be for a different color.

Cut out all the pictures on the sorting cards and put them in a pile. How do you want to sort the cards by: shape, color, use? Where do we put the sorted cards at so they don’t mix with the big pile that needs to be sorted? A spot for a smaller pile, or small containers, even a muffin/cupcake tin can be used. Do you look at each card and find the right bin, or do you pick a bin and then go through each card to find the ones that match before moving on to the next bin?

Write the algorithm – what steps someone should take to sort the pile. Try the steps. Can someone else follow the same steps and sort them the same way you did?

Challenge – Split the troop into two and each group comes up with their own instructions a leader writes down for them. Swap instructions and see if you can follow the other group’s algorithm!

NOTE – A Printable Meeting for Daisy’s Coding Basics badge, with illustrated picture sheets of the story of Ada Lovelace, 4 seed to flower algorithm cards, 8 Ada Lovelace timeline cards, and an easier to use Sorting Algorithm printable is available on Teachers Pay Teachers. (ON SALE for $2 for March – Women’s History Month!)