Lighthouse flowchart activity
Teach conditionals and repeated checks using a lighthouse lamp, manual control, darkness, fog and rough-sea conditions.
Concepts taught
This model helps students practise sequence, selection, conditionals, branching, iteration, repetition, loops, variables, inputs and outputs in a concrete classroom scenario.
Suggested age or phase
Upper primary/elementary, middle/secondary and GCSE starters.
Learning objectives
- Identify the physical inputs and outputs in the system.
- Build a flowchart that uses decisions and repeated checks.
- Trace what happens when conditions change.
- Explain how the algorithm could be converted into pseudocode or code.
Example tasks
Task 1: Manual lamp test
Students build and run a flowchart that applies sequence, decisions and repeated checks in the Lighthouse model.
Task 2: Night watch mode
Students build and run a flowchart that applies sequence, decisions and repeated checks in the Lighthouse model.
Task 3: Fog priority mode
Students build and run a flowchart that applies sequence, decisions and repeated checks in the Lighthouse model.
Task 4: Rough sea alert
Students build and run a flowchart that applies sequence, decisions and repeated checks in the Lighthouse model.
Task 5: Full automatic lighthouse
Students build and run a flowchart that applies sequence, decisions and repeated checks in the Lighthouse model.
Common misconceptions
- Checking only one hazard instead of combining multiple trigger conditions.
- Forgetting the loop that keeps rechecking the environment.
- Putting manual override after other checks when it should be considered clearly.
Curriculum connections
Useful for England computing lessons on sequence, selection and repetition; Australian curriculum language such as branching and iteration; and US K-12 computer science vocabulary including loops, conditionals, algorithms and flowcharts.
Teachers can use the activity as a starter, live demonstration, independent task, intervention activity or assessment checkpoint.
Free activity and licence
The free Zebra Crossing flowchart gives students a quick way to try Flow-Logic. A school licence unlocks the full model library, teacher panel, solution passwords and classroom tasks.