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Introduction to Python Programming for Elementary School Students

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Eligibility: CTY-level or Advanced CTY-level math score required

Prerequisites: Completion of grade 3 in school. Students should complete the basic computer skills placement test to identify what areas they need to review before registering for this course. A strong grasp of the English language is recommended. 

Course Format: Individually Paced

Course Length: Typically 3 months

Course Code: IPY

Course Description

Description

Introduction to Python Programming for Elementary School Students introduces students to the fundamentals of programming using Python, a powerful but easy-to-learn programming language. Students will develop their programming skills by mastering fun, engaging, and age-appropriate assignments that boost creativity, reasoning, and problem solving. Students will learn about variables, operators, control flow constructs, computer graphics, and object-oriented programming concepts such as classes and objects. While no prior programming experience is required, some exposure to programming languages may help students succeed in this highly challenging course. Parental support may be needed.

By the end of the course, students will be able to design, code, and test their own Python programs. They will also have the skills and background of basic programming principles to help them learn other programming languages.

Students who complete Introduction to Python Programming for Elementary School Students should not enroll in Introduction to Python Programming for Middle School Students because it covers similar content.

This course does not have any synchronous class meetings, but students may schedule one-on-one virtual meetings directly with the instructor to answer questions or concerns.

Students may be invited to interact in CTY community spaces that include students and instructors and potentially specially invited guests that are not enrolled in their course. Student contributions (e.g., projects, forum posts, etc.) may remain in the course after the student completes the course. These artifacts may be preserved to showcase student work or to continue important conversations.

Materials Needed

Students will need to download the latest version of Python for free.

The required course textbook is:

Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction To Programming, by Jason R. Briggs. ISBN 78-1593274078

References and supplementary readings will be provided, where required, on the course website.

Detailed Course Information

Course Details

Getting Started

  • History of Python
  • Sample Python projects
  • Writing your first program
  • Saving and opening programs
  • Using comments

Moving your Turtle

  • Using the turtle module- pen()
  • Using the turtle module – forward(), backward(), left(), and right()
  • Changing the pen size and color
  • Penup() and pendown()
  • Drawing circles

Math and Variables

  • Operators and Order of Operations
  • Variables
  • Revisiting the turtle with variables

Strings

  • Creating strings
  • Multi-line strings
  • Quotation marks inside strings
  • Embedding values inside strings
  • Multiplying strings
  • Using the input() function
  • Converting strings to numbers
  • Concatenating strings

Reusing Code with Functions and Modules

  • Defining a function
  • Using functions
  • Returning a value
  • Variables and scope
  • Modules

Conditional Statements

  • If statements
  • If-then-else statements
  • If and elif statements
  • Multiple conditions and multiple if statements

Loops

  • Using for loops
  • Creating while loops
  • Nesting loops
  • Using the break command and avoiding infinite loops

Lists and Maps

  • Lists
  • Maps

Introduction to Classes and Objects

  • Introduction to classes and objects
  • Using classes to create an interactive program

Built-in Functions

  • Helpful built-in functions

Working with Files

  • Creating a file
  • Opening a file in Python
  • Writing to a file

 

 

Technical Requirements

This course requires a properly maintained computer with high-speed internet access and an up-to-date web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox). The student must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

Zoom online virtual classroom
This course uses an online virtual classroom which can be used for instructor-student communication if the student has any questions about the course or curriculum. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client and also tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Students will need a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed to watch any recorded meetings. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both available for free download.

Most course lectures may be viewed on mobile devices, but in some cases assignments and quizzes must be completed on a desktop or laptop computer.

Chromebooks are not recommended due to required downloading of specialized software.