Week One

This first week introduces coding and touches on Python. We will be asking and thinking about the following questions:

What is coding?
What does a programmer do?
What is Python?
How do we write and run code?

Presentation

In-Class Activity: The Human Computer Game

Before writing real Python code, let’s experience how a programmer and a computer interact!

Get in Pairs

Find a partner and decide who is the Programmer and who is the Computer.

Get Your Materials

The Programmer is given a secret drawing on a piece of paper. The Computer gets a blank sheet of paper and a pencil.

Understand the Rules

The Programmer cannot see what the Computer is drawing.
The Computer cannot look at the Programmer’s secret drawing.

Write the Code (1 Minute)

The Programmer has one minute to write or speak clear, step-by-step instructions telling the Computer how to recreate the drawing.

Run the Code

The Computer executes the written instructions exactly as told—without guessing or fixing mistakes!

Reveal the Output

Compare the final drawing to the original secret paper to see if your code worked!

What this teaches us about Python

Computers take instructions literally: If your instructions aren’t clear, the computer will draw something completely unexpected!
Programming is clear communication: Writing code requires precise, logical steps so the computer knows exactly what to do.

Activity

In this first activity, you’ll explore the Raspberry Pi online Code Editor and tell the computer to say Hello World!

Concepts you will explore

Code editors: what an editor is for and how it lets us type in and run code (instructions for the computer)
Logging in: how to create an account and log in so your progress is saved
Editor areas: where to type code, how to run it, how to save it, and where to see the output
Print statements: how to say hello with the print() command
Comments: how to leave notes in your code for yourself and others


# Comments 
# Comments start with '#' and are ignored by Python.
# You can use them to explain your code or leave notes for yourself.
# For example: The code below shows how to use the print statement.
 
# We will use the print statement to instruct the computer to say Hello World!
print('Hello World!')           # Prints "Hello World!"
 
# You can also print emojis and math calculations! 
print('Hello World!🐍')     # Prints "Hello World!🐍"
print('🐍 can also do math!')
print(f'{5 * 10}')

Comments

Comments start with #.
Python ignores them when running your code.
Use comments to explain your code, like:


# Comments 
# Comments start with '#' and are ignored by Python.
# You can use them to explain your code or leave notes for yourself.
# For example: The code below shows how to use the print statement.

Print Statements

print() shows messages in the output window (or terminal) after you click Run.


print('Hello World! 🐍')

This prints:


Hello World! 🐍

Other examples:


print(f'Welcome to 🐍')
print(f'🐍 can also do math!')
print(f'{5 * 10}')

Outputs:


Welcome to Python 🐍
Python 🐍 can also do math!
50

Explore Further

Change the values in the code and see how the output changes.
Add more print() statements with your own emojis or math.
Try creating a simple message using your name and favorite emoji!

Challenges

Choose your difficulty level and put your data type skills to the test!

Python Editor

The Digital ID Card

Write a Python program that generates a structured digital ID card using exact output formats.

Requirements:

Include exactly two comment lines at the top containing your name and today’s date.
Use a standard print() statement to output the text Name: [Your Name].
Use an f-string print() statement to calculate and output your age next year, assuming your current age is 14 (14 + 1).

Expected Output:


Name: Alex
Age next year: 15

View Solution


# Name: Alex
# Date: October 13, 2026
 
print("Name: Alex")
print(f"Age next year: {14 + 1}")

The Movie Ticket Receipt

Create a script that prints a movie theater receipt and calculates totals using math inside f-strings.

Requirements:

Include a comment at the top explaining what the script does.
Use print() with an f-string to calculate the cost for 2 movie tickets at $12.50 each.
Use print() with an f-string to calculate the snack cost for 1 popcorn ($6.75) and 2 drinks ($3.50 each).
Use a final print() statement with an f-string to add the ticket cost and snack cost together for the total.

Expected Output:


--- MOVIE TICKET RECEIPT ---
Tickets Cost: $25.0
Snacks Cost: $13.75
Total Due: $38.75

View Solution


# Receipt calculator for movie tickets and snacks.
# Calculates individual costs and the final total.
 
print("--- MOVIE TICKET RECEIPT ---")
print(f"Tickets Cost: ${2 * 12.50}")
print(f"Snacks Cost: ${6.75 + (2 * 3.50)}")
print(f"Total Due: ${25.0 + 13.75}")

The Geometry Helper

Build a script that calculates the area and perimeter of a specific rectangle using precise mathematical formulas.

Requirements:

Include comments outlining the formulas for Area (width * length) and Perimeter (2 * (width + length)).
Print a status line displaying the fixed dimensions: Width = 7.5 meters, Length = 14.2 meters.
Use an f-string print() statement to compute and display the total area.
Use an f-string print() statement to compute and display the total perimeter.

Expected Output:


Room Dimensions: Width = 7.5m, Length = 14.2m
Calculated Area: 106.5 square meters
Calculated Perimeter: 43.4 meters

View Solution


# Geometry calculations for a rectangular room.
# Area formula: width * length
# Perimeter formula: 2 * (width + length)
 
print("Room Dimensions: Width = 7.5m, Length = 14.2m")
print(f"Calculated Area: {7.5 * 14.2} square meters")
print(f"Calculated Perimeter: {2 * (7.5 + 14.2)} meters")