Daisy The Dinosaur is a free application to introduce primary students the basic logic behind computer programming. A list of commands is provided to the user and when the commands are dragged and connected in the program box, Daisy the Dinosaur will move per the programmed directions.

By solving the app’s challenges, Daisy the Dinosaur teaches programming concepts such as loops (repeat five) and conditionals (when) without explicitly using those terms/ Rather than dealing with images and symbols, users use regular words describing what move they want Daisy to make. Daisy can be made to move, turn, grow, shrink, jump, roll, and spin. Though with no save feature, students will have to share their work immediately. After playing Daisy the Dinosaur, users can choose to download a kit to program their own computer game.

When the app launches, it offers a Challenge Mode and a Free Play Mode. Challenge Mode is designed to introduce first time users to the many ways Daisy the Dinosaur can be programmed. After learning how to program Daisy the Dinosaur, users can create their own animations in Free-Play Mode.
Educational Uses
  • Introduce the concepts behind computer programming
  • Foster cause and effect as students see how chosen commands affect Daisy’s actions
  • Develop procedural understanding. Using sequenced commands, users can use Daisy to create short and simple animations
  • Promote computational thinking, problem solving which combines mathematics, logic and algorithms

Getting Started

  1. Download the free app.
  2. Tap Challenge Mode and follow the provided lessons or challenges.
  3. Tap the Free Play Mode after completing all the challenges.
  4. Have either you, your colleagues, or your students program Daisy to move and act in different ways.