chrisglencross / python-lessons

Materials that I've been using for teaching Python to year 4-6 children (KS2).

python-lessons

This project contains some materials that I have been using to teach children an introduction to Python during the summer term of 2016.

I've been working with a group of 6 children (ages 8 to 11), with one hour per week.

Lesson 1: This lesson actually took 2 weeks.

• IDLE Python Shell.
• Saving and running Python programs.
• The print() function.
• Understanding some Python error messages.
• Values: Strings, Numbers, Lists.
• Number arithmetic, string concatenation.
• Using variables for storing values.
• if / else conditions.
• while loops with counters.
• Importing the random module and using random.choice().

Lesson 2:

• for loops
• Sequences
• Turtle graphics
• An introduction to functions

Lesson 3:

• Caesar cipher project

Lesson 4: This lesson took two weeks.

• Data Structures: lists, sets and dictionaries.
• Calculating prime numbers with sets.
• Escape from Stamford Green adventure game (version 1)
• Not in the materials, but we also spend a bit of time with class members adding their own rooms to the maze and making random events happen: a teacher occassionally appears and sends you to the staff room. There was a question about how, on completing the game, it could tell you how quickly you did it. This influenced the time.time() functionality in the next lesson!

Lesson 5:

• Type conversions
• Simple exception handling
• Timing with time.time()
• Times Table Test game

Lesson 6:

• More turtle graphics: filling shapes, choosing colours, clicking on turtles, many turtles, and making your own turtle shapes.