Using simple code

1. Open Blockly Games in a new web-browser window. The image above shows how the screen should look.

2. Select ‘Maze’ from the homepage. Make sure you’re on Level 1 – levels are shown as grey dots at the top of the page, so you should see the number 1 highlighted ‘Maze’.

If you want to complete the exercises offline or struggle to access Blockly for other reasons, you can use the more accessible PDF version in the Downloads section. You can write your answers by hand. You may want to open the link in a new browser tab or window so that you can easily return to this page.

Using Blockly Maze

Here’s how to write a program in Blockly as shown in the image below:

• drag blocks from the grey column into the workspace on the right

• snap blocks together to make them run in order

• some blocks will snap around other blocks and alter the flow of the program.

The blocks with puzzle-piece edges will show you how they snap together to form a solution. To delete a block from your program, drag it to the trashcan in the bottom right. Dragging one block will also drag any blocks which may be attached beneath it. Remember this if it is proving difficult to move the block you would like to.

Running your program

Here’s how to run your program:

• When you have snapped together a solution, select the red ‘Run Program’ button to run your solution.

• The Blockly Maze site will tell you if you have got the solution right or wrong.

• If you got it wrong, there is a button to ‘Reset Program’ and you can make another attempt.

• If you got it right, Blockly Maze will show you the text-based JavaScript code running behind the scenes that you have assembled out of blocks.

Work through each level in turn. From Level 3 onwards, you’ll have a limit on the number of blocks you can use. This may assist you in working out the right solution.

As your program runs, blocks will light up in turn, showing you the flow through your program. If the program is not doing what you expect, pay attention to the flow through it. Is the flow what you expect? If not, do blocks need moving or changing to adjust that flow?

Stop working when you’ve completed Level 5. You’ll get the opportunity to discuss your experience in the next step.

Are you having difficulty progressing to Level 5?

Don’t worry if you get stuck. In the See Also section you can find solutions to complete levels 1-6. Also, please ask questions or share and discuss your suggestions and solutions with other learners in the Comments section.