Guided Tour of Sydneys Tourist Attractions

Grade: Years 2-3

Time Needed: 15 minutes
Group Size: Pairs
Focus: Algorithms, sequence of instructions, abstraction, data representation, computational
thinking.
Syllabus Links:
Foundation to Year 2
Follow, describe and represent a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve
simple problems (ACTDIP004)
Years 3 & 4
Define simple problems, and describe and follow a sequence of steps and decisions
(algorithms) needed to solve them (ACTDIP010)
Materials:
Copy of tourist map board
Board game piece to move around the map
Route recording sheet
Pencil
Aim: To create a simple algorithm for touring around the city of Sydney, starting at the hotel
and finishing at the hotel, visiting each attraction only once. There are several different routes
and students are to make a decision on which algorithm to follow.
Summary: Students will be acting as a tour guide and they must design a tour that departs
the hotel and visits every Tourist Attraction only once and back to the hotel at the end of the
day.
This activity is an example of creating an algorithm that is a simple sequence of instructions
to do in order. It shows that if we have written down a solution to the problem in the form of
an algorithm then we are able to do tours in future just by following the steps, without having
to work it out from scratch again. Also if we write down the algorithm we can check that it
definitely works by following it step by step on paper.
It also introduces graphs and with them the computational thinking idea that by representing a
problem (i.e., the data we have about it) in a way that removes unnecessary detail (i.e., using
abstraction) we can make the problem easier to solve.
This activity includes branching by having students make decisions about a particular route
and includes iteration by working in a group and having group members check each others
work and deciding on possible alternative routes.
Rules:
 It starts at the hotel
It visits every location
It does not pass through a location already visited
It ends at the hotel
Students will write their route on their recording sheet
To be done in pairs
Must end at the hotel
Guided Tour
City of Sydney Map
Starting at the hotel, plan a route so that tourists can visit every tourist attraction just
once ending up back at the hotel.

HARBOUR BRIDGE
HOTEL

MUSEUM

CIRCULAR
QUAY
ZOO
THE ROCKS KINGS CROSS SYDNEY
BEACH

DARLING CHINATOWN
HARBOUR

CENTER
POINT TOWER
OPERA
HOUSE
Route Recording Sheet
Step Instruction Place
1 Start at the Hotel

2 The go to the

3 Next go to the

4 Next go to the

5 Next go to the

6 Next go to the

7 Next go to the

8 Next go to the

9 Next go to the

10 Next go to the

11 Next go to the

12 Next go to the

13 Finally go to the Hotel

One Possible Route
Step Instruction Place
1 Start at the Hotel

2 Then go to the Harbour Bridge

3 Next go to the Sydney Beach

4 Next go to the Opera House

5 Next go to the Centre Point Tower

6 Next go to the Zoo

7 Next go to the The Rocks

8 Next go to the Darling Harbour

9 Next go to the Chinatown

10 Next go to the Kings Cross

11 Next go to the Museum

12 Next go to the Circular Quay

13 Finally go to the Hotel