What is PRIMM?
PRIMM is a classroom approach to teaching programming that helps learners build understanding step by step. The stages are Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, and Make.
It is especially useful when students are new to a topic or still developing confidence, because it gives them a way into the code before asking them to create something independently.
Who created PRIMM?
The PRIMM method is associated with Sue Sentance and colleagues, who have written and shared widely about structured ways to teach programming in schools. The approach has become popular because it fits real classroom practice rather than assuming students should always start by writing full programs from scratch.
The five stages of PRIMM
Stage 1
Predict
Show students a short piece of code and ask what they think it will do. This builds attention and gets them thinking before they run anything.
Stage 2
Run
Students run the code to compare their prediction with what really happens. This is a useful stage for discussion, tracing, and checking misconceptions.
Stage 3
Investigate
Now we slow down and examine the important lines. Students explain variables, conditions, loops, or function calls so they understand how the program works.
Stage 4
Modify
Students make small changes to the code. This is often where confidence grows because the task is manageable but still active.
Stage 5
Make
Finally, students create something more independently. By this point they have already understood and adapted the code, so the open task feels more achievable.
Benefits of PRIMM
- It gives lessons a clear structure.
- It helps students read code before they are expected to write lots of it.
- It supports mixed-attainment classes because tasks can be scaffolded.
- It works well for GCSE and A-Level programming lessons.
PRIMM also makes classroom discussion easier. Students can justify predictions, explain lines of code, and compare modified versions before moving on to a make task.
Limitations and considerations
- PRIMM works best when examples are well chosen and not too long.
- If the lesson stays in Predict and Run for too long, students can become passive.
- The Make stage still needs careful support for less confident learners.
- Teachers need examples and python teaching resources that match the intended learning goal.
How to use PRIMM in your classroom
A practical pattern is to begin with a short code snippet on the board, ask students to predict the result, run it together, then use a trace table or guided questions to investigate the logic. After that, students modify the code in pairs before attempting their own make task.
How Paired supports PRIMM lessons
Paired fits PRIMM well because it supports live demonstration, shared editing, trace tables, visual flowcharts, and structured lesson routines in one browser-based workspace. That makes it easier to teach Python online or in class without changing tools at every stage.
- Predict and Run work naturally in a shared editor.
- Investigate works well with trace tables and guided prompts.
- Modify and Make are easier when students can continue from the same shared code.
Ready when you are
Ready to start your first session?
Create a shared room, invite learners, and begin coding together in the browser.