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Ask HN: Physical Algorithm Toys

5 points by thomk 7y ago

Which physical toys will help a young person understand algorithms or programming concepts in general? An example is the 'Tower of Hanoi' game: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Tower_of_Hanoi Another example is this sorting game: https://imgur.com/a/NrjSHdG I am interested in teaching some very young people these concepts, in a fun way, without the requirement of a computer or any electronics at all.

pubby 7y ago
Mazes can teach graph traversal.
- thomk 7y ago
  You're right, didn't think of that, Thank you.
Theophraustous 7y ago
A Rubix Cube seems like the obvious choice. In learning to solve the cube you will learn several algorithms, and see how useful they can be yourself.
Jtsummers 7y ago
Define young for us. My first thought is not a toy, but a game, Robo Rally [0]. However, that might be less applicable to young children. They'd have a harder time with it. There are many algorithms which can be demonstrated with playing cards, but they are not games or toys in themselves, but demonstrations. Based on the imgur link (which finally loaded), my suggestions are probably not age appropriate. Wood Gears [1] has some neat contraptions and ideas that may be enjoyable for kids (some more than others). Even things like the solitaire puzzles are algorithim toys [2]. There are many variations of it which scale down to be more appropriate to younger children. [0] https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18/roborally https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18/roborally [1] https://woodgears.ca/machines.html https://woodgears.ca/machines.html [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_solitaire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_solitaire
codingdave 7y ago
Take a look at the activities labeled 'Algorithms' from the 'unplugged' page on code.org: https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged They have a few specific toys they work with, but it also will likely give you more ideas.
jones1618 7y ago
Traffic Jam is a physical sliding puzzle that teaches sequential and recursive thinking: https://tinyurl.com/yxav6zx4 https://tinyurl.com/yxav6zx4 There's also a 1-dimensional version you can play in a classroom with people or on a table w/ coins or chess pieces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizRWfuT5uQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizRWfuT5uQ

5 points by thomk 7y ago

pubby 7y ago

Mazes can teach graph traversal.

thomk 7y ago
You're right, didn't think of that, Thank you.

Theophraustous 7y ago

A Rubix Cube seems like the obvious choice. In learning to solve the cube you will learn several algorithms, and see how useful they can be yourself.

Jtsummers 7y ago

Define young for us. My first thought is not a toy, but a game, Robo Rally [0]. However, that might be less applicable to young children. They'd have a harder time with it. There are many algorithms which can be demonstrated with playing cards, but they are not games or toys in themselves, but demonstrations. Based on the imgur link (which finally loaded), my suggestions are probably not age appropriate. Wood Gears [1] has some neat contraptions and ideas that may be enjoyable for kids (some more than others). Even things like the solitaire puzzles are algorithim toys [2]. There are many variations of it which scale down to be more appropriate to younger children. [0] https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18/roborally https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18/roborally [1] https://woodgears.ca/machines.html https://woodgears.ca/machines.html [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_solitaire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_solitaire

codingdave 7y ago

Take a look at the activities labeled 'Algorithms' from the 'unplugged' page on code.org: https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged They have a few specific toys they work with, but it also will likely give you more ideas.

jones1618 7y ago

Traffic Jam is a physical sliding puzzle that teaches sequential and recursive thinking: https://tinyurl.com/yxav6zx4 https://tinyurl.com/yxav6zx4 There's also a 1-dimensional version you can play in a classroom with people or on a table w/ coins or chess pieces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizRWfuT5uQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizRWfuT5uQ