Intro to Python

In this lesson, students discuss the importance of computers and programming skills in today’s world. They’ll see how coding breaks tasks down into smaller steps, then set up a Python file and write their first lines of code. We also introduce the concept of functions, pieces of code that perform specific tasks.

In this lesson, students learn about the problems with repeating code and how to implement the DRY principle. Building on the last class, they will use variables to reduce their code and learn about why DRY is so important.

In this lesson, students identify repeating code and use functions to fix this problem. They will define their own functions and learn about using parameters. 

In this lesson, students learn about defining conditions in programs and using code to make simple decisions with if-else statements. While creating a fun game, they will also learn to import modules and display emoji characters.

In this lesson, students will learn how using loops can keep code DRY. Specifically, we’ll use for and while loops to reduce our code. We also show students how and when to use break and continue statements.

In this lesson, students learn about Python data structures. They will use list data structures to hold a collection of data and combine lists together.

In this lesson, students use code to make complex decisions. They will learn about Python logical operators and how to use them in if-else statements. They will also retrieve data with return statements.

In this lesson, students learn about cases where you cannot use a list and are introduced to dictionary data structures. They’ll be able to sort and derive information from a dictionary and find a specific entry within the dictionary as a search. 

In this lesson, students learn the difference between mutable and immutable data. Students learn what a tuple is and when to use it. We also discuss strings as lists and what makes a tuple different from a list. 

In this lesson, students learn how to access data in other files in Python. They’ll be able to open and close, read, and display data from these files. They’ll also learn how to edit and save this data for later use.

In this lesson, students start a randomized Rock, Paper, Scissors game by combining the skills learned throughout the class. They will setup a Python file from start to finish and learn more about how importing functions from Python files. The completed game is a true showcase of the solid programming skills our students have gained.

In this final lesson, students complete a randomized Rock, Paper, Scissors game by combining the skills learned throughout the class. They will add logic to run multiple rounds of the game and determine a winner. The completed game is a true showcase of the solid foundation programming concepts and skills students have gained.