Have pairs of students aim to achieve the same patterns on Battleship boards to teach them the precision necessary for algorithmic design.

  • Have students sit on opposite sides of a barrier and communicate with precision in an attempt to match their partner’s arrangement of game pieces.
    • You can also have students use Legos instead of Battleship for a more challenging, 3d version of this game.
  • Use this activity to emphasize the importance of communication (which you should compare to clear comments in code) and the importance of precise instructions for expressing algorithms in code.
    • This activity also helps establish good partnership skills like adhering to defined roles, working as a team, and actively listening to one another.
  • Note from the CS Teaching Tips Team: For a similar tip that uses drawing, check out this CS Unplugged Tip.