The acquisition of control structures in programming poses a significant challenge for K12 students, often requiring more time than typically allocated in standard lecture schedules. This study uses three distinct experiment groups to investigate the efficacy of different instructional approaches to learning control structures. One group (our baseline) consisted of K12 students with prior programming experience. Another group included novices who received a conventional introduction to control structures. Finally, a third group, also comprised of novices, engaged in an intensive unit employing the “human robot” method, which heavily emphasized control structures. Our findings indicate that even for students with prior experience, mastery of control structures demands extended practice and instructional time. Notably, the “human robot” method significantly enhanced the understanding of control structures among novices, suggesting that more dedicated time and innovative teaching strategies are crucial for effectively teaching these fundamental concepts. Consequently, we recommend that computer science lessons allocate additional time and employ active learning techniques to ensure students develop a robust grasp of control structures.