Python Coding Basics Guide for Kids

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Hey there, code wizards in training! I’m Danny, your friendly neighbourhood coding expert, and today we’re diving into the amazing world of Python! It’s a special kind of language, not like the one we speak every day, but one computers understand. With Python, you can build cool games, chatbots, websites, and even control robots – just like in the movies!

Why Python? It’s like learning magic!

Imagine you have a magic notebook where you write special instructions, and a friendly genie (the computer) makes them happen. That’s kind of what Python is like! It’s easy to learn, even for young wizards like us, because the instructions are clear and written in plain English, well, almost!

Let’s get started on our Python adventure!

First, we need a place to write our code. Think of it like our magic notebook. There are many free websites where we can practice, like Trinket: https://trinket.io/ or Repl.it: https://repl.it/. They’re super easy to use, and you don’t need to download anything. Once you’re on the website, you’ll see a blank page where you can write your spells, er, I mean code.

Abracadabra! Let’s write our first program!

We’ll start with something simple: making the computer say hello. Here’s the magic code:

Python

print("Hello, world!")

——

How it works:

print is like our magic command, telling the computer to do something.
"Hello, world!" is the message we want the computer to show us.

Now, click the “Run” button (it might look different on each website), and voila! The computer should say “Hello, world!” on the screen. We just created our first Python program – how cool is that?

Level up your magic!

Now that you’ve mastered the hello spell, let’s try something more exciting. How about making a guessing game? Here’s the code:

Python

secret_number = 7
guess = int(input("Guess a number between 1 and 10: "))

if guess == secret_number:
  print("You guessed it! You're a coding wizard!")
else:
  print("Nope, try again!")

——

Breakdown of the magic:

We define a secret_number (the number you want the user to guess).
We use input to ask the user to guess a number and store it in the guess variable.
The if statement checks if the guess is equal to the secret_number.
- If it is, we print a congratulatory message.
- If not, we ask the user to try again.

Remember: When the computer asks for input, you need to type your answer in the box and press enter.

More coding fun!

These are just a few examples to get you started. With Python, you can create all sorts of things:

Drawing games: Use code to draw shapes, lines, and even colorful pictures!
Animations: Make things move on the screen, like bouncing balls or flying rockets.
Simple stories: Write stories where the user makes choices that change the outcome.

The possibilities are endless! As you learn more, you can build even more complex and exciting projects.

Here are some cool websites to help you on your coding journey:

CodeCombat: https://codecombat.com/ (learn Python by playing a game!)
Scratch (can use python): https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/getting-started-with-scratch/overview/ (a great introduction to coding with colorful blocks)
Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming (free coding tutorials and exercises)

The most important thing is to have fun and keep practicing! The more you code, the better you’ll become. So, put on your thinking caps, grab your virtual wand (your keyboard), and get ready to code like a true Python wizard! ✨

** Photo Credits: Freepik