Download the One Key Logo program.
This microworld is designed for children from 3-6 years old and for all people new to turtle graphics. The environment consists of a small number of commands that are available by pressing a single key. Mouse control has also been implemented in this version which makes a great environment for classroom teaching with an interactive whiteboard.
The basic turtle commands of FORWARD, BACKWARDS, RIGHT and LEFT are used to draw simple shapes such as triangles and squares. Three turns are required to draw a corner for the square so the sequence for a square is FRRR entered four times. Press C to CLEAR the screen and start again
A triangle requires four turns so FRRRR entered three times will draw a triangle (each turn is 30 degrees). A hexagon can be drawn with two turns by executing the FRR sequence six times and a circle (actually a dodecahedron) with FR executed twelve times. You can introduce the PLAY button which will repeat the initial key commands entered after clearing the screen so that CFRRR followed by PPP will create a square.
Small children love the Play feature and will happily create their own patterns that fill the screen. Going forward to the edge of the screen will wrap around to the other side providing a source of delight. Squirals are a particular favourite and can be created easily with the + button which increases the length of the line drawn. A simple squiral is created with the CFRRR+ sequence followed by repetition of the P button.
Stars are another interesting pattern that can be made easily and quickly using the play command. FRB or RFLLB and Play will create a star as will RFRRRR and Play. Adding a plus to RFRRRR+ and Play creates a growing star shape that is quite impressive.
A step ladder can be made with the Play button with careful positioning of the turtle on completion of the turtle at the top left hand corner of a completed square. Create the square manually by entering FRRR four times and add a final F before Playing to produce the step ladder. This technique can be combined with the pen up command to produce different patterns.
A lesson plan might introduce the basic commands and the class could draw shapes together using an interactive whiteboard with children coming up to press the relevant buttons on the board or prompting the teacher for which button to press. One key logo might be presented before or after a session with a floor turtle. Lessons in a computer suite could encourage the children to learn (and write down) how to create various shapes beginning with simple shapes and moving onto repeated patterns with the Play command and squiral type growth. There is also opportunity for creative play to produce patterns or to draw pictures (say of a house) with use of the Up command and selecting colours. Planning activity using graph paper to construct pictures and lists of commands in advance of trying them out on the computer will help children recognise how to construct sequential computer programs in the future. Simulating and correcting problems from a written list of commands is good preparation for future bug fixing activity.
The list of commands implemented in this version of One Key LOGO comprises:
It is easy to change the characters used in One Key Logo for foreign languages but bear in mind that these correspond to Logo commands that will be introduced to the children soon so they can create their own sequences of commands. A good understanding of the command memory, perhaps creating and erasing several patterns with the Play and Reset commands when constructing a picture composed of squares, triangles, and stars might help the child recognise the value of a Logo procedure later in their programming experience.
One Key Logo is also implemented on many of the floor turtles used in schools although perhaps without the play memory. Special children respond well to a floor turtle and orient their body to help work out the commands to apply from the turtle's point of view (syntony). This screen implementation can provide faster feedback and allow much more complex sequences to be built and may be useful in a lesson when combined with an interactive whiteboards.
Please email us with comments on how one key logo was received by the children in your class or home remembering to let us know the age of the children and the number of hours spent using one key logo.