Planning is the foundation of any successful coding project. It helps you organise your ideas, set clear goals, and prepare for the work ahead. In this lesson, you’ll brainstorm a program idea (such as a game or script), design its structure, list the resources you’ll need, and create a timeline. By the end, you’ll have a detailed plan to guide you through developing your first program.

You can work on this project individually or as a team. If you choose to work as a team, keep your group size to a maximum of 3 or 4 members.

Think about what kind of program you’d like to create. It could be a game (like Pong or a maze), an animation that tells a story, or an interactive script (like a quiz). Grab a pencil and paper or use a digital note app. Write down at least three ideas that excite you.

For inspiration, think about games you enjoy or stories you’d like to tell. Pick your favourite idea. If you’re working with others, discuss your ideas together and agree on one to develop as a team.

Visualise your program by sketching its design on paper or a digital tool. Draw what the user will see, such as characters, buttons, or backgrounds (this is the user interface). Then, map out how it works—for example, “When the user clicks ‘Start,’ the character moves.” This is called a storyboard.

Keep it simple but clear, showing the main steps or screens. This will help you understand your program’s flow before you start coding.

Make a list of everything you'll need for your program. Include:

• Assets such as sprites (characters or objects), backgrounds, sounds, or hardware (e.g., Microbit sensors if you're using one).
• Coding blocks or techniques you'll use, like loops, if-statements, or events.
• Equipment such as a laptop or computer to work on your project, along with any specific hardware like a Microbit if your project requires it.

Keep this list handy for when you are actually coding your project.

Break your project into tasks, such as:

• Setting up Scratch, MakeCode Arcade or Microbit
• Coding the main feature
• Adding sounds or other enhancements
• Testing the program

Write these tasks down and estimate how long each will take. Assign deadlines for each task. If you’re in a group, decide who is responsible for each task. Be realistic—this timeline will help you stay on track, but you can adjust it if necessary.