Programming 201 - Course Overview

An introduction to block programming for beginners in upper elementary grades with a focus on game design, animation, and music.

  • YEARS 6-7
  • BEGINNER
  • WEB IPAD

Description

An introduction to programming for beginners in upper elementary grades. Introduce your class to programming using a fun scenario-based approach where they build two complete games. Side Scroller Survival introduces them to basics of motion and animation. In BeatBot Battle, they program a robot to make it dance. On completing this lesson plan students will be able to build simple games, animations, and a variety of simple projects.

Topics

  • Use sequencing
  • Pattern recognition
  • Loops
  • Conditional logic
  • Create scenes
  • Add sounds and music
  • Use keyboard controls
  • Learn about motion
  • Broadcasting messages
  • Adding special effects

What Students Learn

  • Create interactive scenes with actors, scenes and music
  • Design animations using loops
  • Program motion along x- and y-axes
  • Build algorithms using conditional logic
  • Understand scripts running in parallel
  • Program music using notes, tempo and instruments
  • Create different scenarios and effects in games
  • Publish projects to the Web
  • Troubleshoot and debug simple programs

Technical Requirements

* Online courses require a modern desktop computer, laptop computer, Chromebook, or Netbook with Internet access and a Chrome (29+), Firefox (30+), Safari (7+), or Edge (20+) browser. No downloads required.
* Tablet courses require an iPad (iOS 10+) with Tynker or Tynker Junior app installed and Internet access