Day 4: Program Function and Purpose

Learning Objectives

• CRD-2.A: Describe the purpose of a computing innovation.
• CRD-2.B: Explain how a program or code segment functions.

Essential Questions

• What is the difference between a program's purpose and its function?
• How do programs solve problems through their functions?

Materials Needed

• Presentation slides on program purpose and function
• Sample programs with documentation
• Worksheet for program analysis
• Exit ticket templates

Vocabulary

• Program purpose
• Program function
• Computing innovation
• Problem solution
• Program behavior

Procedure (50 minutes)

Opening (10 minutes)

1. Review and Transition (3 minutes)

   • Briefly review collaboration concepts from previous lessons
   • Transition to today's focus on understanding programs themselves

2. Activating Prior Knowledge (7 minutes)

   • Think-Pair-Share: "What are some programs you use daily? What problems do they solve?"
   • Create class list of programs and their general purposes

Main Activities (30 minutes)

3. Lecture: Understanding Program Purpose and Function (10 minutes)

   • Define program purpose: the problem a program is intended to solve
   • Define program function: how a program actually works to achieve its purpose
   • Explain the relationship between purpose and function
   • Show examples of programs with clear purposes and functions

4. Demo: Analyzing Different Programs (8 minutes)

   • Present 2-3 different programs/apps
   • For each, analyze and distinguish between:
     • Purpose (problem being solved)
     • Function (how it works)
     • Behavior (what it does when executed)
   • Highlight how documentation reveals purpose and function

5. Group Activity: Program Analysis (12 minutes)

   • Divide class into small groups (3-4 students)
   • Distribute different program descriptions/code segments to each group
   • Groups identify and document:
     • The program's purpose
     • How the program functions to achieve that purpose
     • Who the intended users are
     • How the program solves a problem
   • Groups share their analyses with the class

Closing (10 minutes)

6. Discussion (5 minutes)

   • How can understanding a program's purpose help in evaluating its effectiveness?
   • Why is it important to distinguish between purpose and function?
   • How might a program's function fail to fulfill its intended purpose?

7. Exit Ticket: Written Analysis (5 minutes)

   • Students select a program not discussed in class
   • Write a brief analysis of its purpose and function
   • Explain how it solves a problem for users

Assessment

• Formative: Group activity participation and accuracy of program analysis
• Exit Ticket: Quality of written analysis distinguishing purpose and function

Differentiation

For Advanced Students

• Analyze more complex programs with multiple purposes/functions
• Consider how the same purpose could be achieved with different functions

For Struggling Students

• Provide a structured template for analyzing program purpose and function
• Offer simpler program examples with clear distinctions

Homework/Extension

• Select a program or app you use regularly
• Write a detailed analysis of its purpose, function, and how it could be improved
• Consider how its purpose might be achieved through alternative functions

Teacher Notes

• Emphasize the distinction between purpose (why) and function (how)
• Use diverse examples of programs to illustrate concepts
• Connect back to computing innovations from Day 1
• Preview that tomorrow's lesson will focus on program inputs and outputs