Create boolean variables to use as the condition when introducing if statement to highlight for students that the condition is any expression that evaluates to true or false.

Instead of using common conditional phrases, like x < 4, use descriptive variables that make what is being evaluated clear, like isXLessThan4.
This shift makes the execution that will happen when the code runs clear to the student reading/writing the program.
Below is example code that replaces the common conditional phrase with the more descriptive boolean variable.

Next, show students a compound condition. Demonstrate how these conditions are still evaluating to true or false.

Run through examples like the one below with multiple values for x to help students walk through evaluating compound conditionals.
Compound Conditional Example: Random randGen = new Random() // Use Random to create a random number generator int x = randGen.nextInt(100); // get a random number between 0 and 100 // odd number divisible by 3, or in the 70s if ((x % 2 == 1 && x % 3 == 0) or (x // 7 == 10)) { System.out.println("We found an appropriate number!"); }

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