Have you ever wondered what it’s like to create something amazing with just a computer? Well, that’s what programming is all about! It’s like having a superpower that lets you solve problems and bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re in second grade or tenth grade, learning to code can be exciting and fun.
Hi there! My name is Lyndsey. I studied theater and computer science in college, and now I get to do all sorts of cool things like modeling, acting, and even creating my own apps. Today, I’m going to show you how to use code to help Anna and Elsa from Frozen explore the magic of ice. You’ll learn how to make snowflakes and patterns, turning the ice into a beautiful winter wonderland that you can share with your friends.
In the next hour, you’ll learn the basics of coding. Instead of using traditional text-based programming, we’ll use something called Blockly. Blockly is a fun way to learn because it uses colorful blocks that you can drag and drop to create programs. Even university students start with this method to learn the basics!
A program is just a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Imagine you want Elsa to draw a line on the ice. You’ll write a program to make that happen. Your screen will be divided into three main parts:
To make Elsa move, you’ll use the “move forward” block. This block might say something like “Move forward by 100 pixels.” When you press run, Elsa will glide forward on the screen by 100 pixels. Pixels are tiny dots that make up the images on your computer screen.
To change Elsa’s direction, use the “turn right” block. For example, “turn right by 90 degrees” will make Elsa turn to the right. You can experiment with different angles, like 90 degrees or 120 degrees, to see how Elsa moves. You can adjust the number of pixels or degrees by clicking the arrows next to them.
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to get creative! Use the blocks to make Elsa and Anna perform amazing ice-skating routines. Try creating different patterns and designs. Remember, coding is all about experimenting and having fun. Who knows, you might just discover a new passion for programming!
Happy coding!
Use the Blockly blocks to design a unique snowflake pattern. Experiment with different angles and distances to see how they affect the shape of your snowflake. Share your creation with the class and explain the steps you took to make it.
Program Elsa to perform a series of moves on the ice. Use the “move forward” and “turn” blocks to create a skating routine. Challenge yourself to include at least three different turns and movements. Present your routine to the class and describe how you used coding to choreograph it.
Work in pairs to find and use as many different Blockly blocks as possible. Create a program that uses at least five different blocks. Discuss with your partner how each block functions and what it adds to your program. Share your findings with the class.
Use the “move forward” and “turn” blocks to create a piece of pixel art on the ice. Plan your design on graph paper first, then translate it into a program using Blockly. Display your artwork and explain how you used coding to bring your design to life.
Compete in teams to debug a pre-written program that contains errors. Identify the mistakes and correct them to make Elsa complete a specific pattern. The first team to successfully debug the program wins. Discuss the errors you found and how you fixed them.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Which grade are you in?
Second, tenth grade, first grade. I was in the eighth grade when I learned to program. I got my first computer when I was in the sixth grade. What excites me is being able to solve people’s problems. You can express yourself; you can build things from an idea. Computer science is the foundation for many of the things that students and professionals will do for the next 20 or 30 years. I enjoy programming because I like helping people. I have the opportunity to create something that will make people’s lives easier. I think this is the closest thing we have to a superpower. Getting started is the most important part. I’m a beginner myself, and I want you to learn with me.
Hi, my name is Lyndsey. I majored in theater in college, but I also majored in computer science. Now, I model, act, and write my own apps. Let’s use code to help Anna and Elsa as they explore the magic and beauty of ice. You’ll create snowflakes and patterns as you ice skate and make a winter wonderland that you can share with your friends. In the next hour, you’re going to learn the basics of how to code. Traditional programming is usually in text, but we will use Blockly, which uses visual blocks that you can drag and drop to write programs. This is how even university students learn the basics. Under the hood, you are still creating code.
A program is a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Let’s build a code for a program that will help Elsa create a simple line. We will use this later to create more complex patterns. Your screen is split into three main parts: On the left is the ice surface where you will run your program. The instructions for each level are written right below the surface. The middle area is the toolbox, and each of these blocks represents an action that Elsa and Anna can perform. The white space on the right is called the workspace, and this is where we will build our program.
To move around the ice surface, you will use the “move forward” block. Here, the move forward block says: “Move forward by 100 pixels.” When we press run, what happens? Elsa moves forward a certain amount on the screen—100 pixels, in fact. Pixels are tiny squares on your computer screen. The other block in the puzzle says: “turn right by 90 degrees.” When we use the “turn right” block, that makes Elsa turn a certain amount. You can experiment with how far you want Elsa to turn. The angle is measured from the path ahead of Elsa, so this is a 90-degree turn, and this is a 120-degree turn. Remember, you can change the number of pixels or degrees by clicking the arrows next to them.
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Computer – An electronic device that can store and process information to help us perform tasks. – Example sentence: “I use my computer to do my homework and play games.”
Coding – Writing instructions for a computer to follow, using a special language. – Example sentence: “We are learning coding in class to create our own video games.”
Program – A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task. – Example sentence: “I wrote a program to make the robot move forward and turn left.”
Blocks – Pieces of code that can be snapped together to create a program, often used in beginner coding platforms. – Example sentence: “Using blocks, I made a program that makes the cat sprite dance.”
Pixels – The tiny dots that make up the images on a computer screen. – Example sentence: “The picture looks clearer because it has more pixels.”
Move – To change the position of something on the screen or in a program. – Example sentence: “I used the arrow keys to move the character through the maze.”
Right – The direction that is opposite of left, often used in coding to describe movement. – Example sentence: “In the game, I pressed the right arrow key to make the car turn right.”
Ice – In coding, sometimes used as a theme or element in games or programs to represent cold environments. – Example sentence: “In my game, the character slides on the ice to reach the treasure.”
Learn – To gain knowledge or skills by studying or practicing, especially in coding. – Example sentence: “I want to learn how to code so I can build my own apps.”
Creative – Using imagination to make something new or solve problems, important in coding to design unique projects. – Example sentence: “Being creative helped me come up with a fun idea for my coding project.”
