High School course

Intro to Python

ALL GRADES
BEGINNER
WEB
6 LESSONS

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Answer Key

Module 8: Asteroids

Open Sample Project

U.S. Standards

CSTA: 3A-AP-17, 3B-AP-11, 3B-AP-12, 3B-AP-22
CS CA: 9-12.AP.12, 9-12.AP.14, 9-12.AP.16
ISTE: 1.1.c, 1.1.d, 1.4.d, 1.5.c

U.K. Standards

Key stage 3

Pupils should be taught to:

understand several key algorithms that reflect computational thinking [for example, ones for sorting and searching]; use logical reasoning to compare the utility of alternative algorithms for the same problem
understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting their online identity and privacy; recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct, and know how to report concerns

Key stage 4

All pupils must have the opportunity to study aspects of information technology and computer science at sufficient depth to allow them to progress to higher levels of study or to a professional career. Pupils should be taught to:

develop their capability, creativity and knowledge in computer science, digital media and information technology
develop and apply their analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills
understand how changes in technology affect safety, including new ways to protect their online privacy and identity, and how to report a range of concerns

Lesson 4: Turtle Graphics

Course: | Web

The Turtle API
Setting up the Screen
Creating Turtles
What Is a Sprite?
Moving and Drawing with the Turtle
Writing Your Own Functions
Key Detection
Asteroids
Turtle Review
User Interaction Review

Description

Browser-based Python games! Students learn Python syntax, variables, functions, turtle graphics, and conditional logic and build classic games like Frogga and Brick Breaker.

Topics Covered: Python syntax, sequencing, repetition, conditional logic, nested loops, automation, pattern recognition, simple motion, keyboard and mouse events, pen drawing, operators, expressions, variables, Turtle graphics, using arrays and objects to store structured data.

1/4

What Students Learn

Learn Python syntax
Use conditional logic, loops, and conditional loops to solve problems
Create and use variables
Detect and handle keyboard and mouse events
Write and interpret Python expressions
Use pen drawing and Turtle graphics to draw shapes and display images
Detect win/loss conditions in a game
Implement collision detection between images
Use arrays, dictionaries, and objects to store structured data

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.

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Lesson 4 : Turtle Graphics
Python Game Design

Time: 50+ minutes

Introduction

In this lesson, students will transition from puzzle-based learning to creating open-ended creative projects using the turtle tool. They'll start with the absolute basics, like changing the background color and moving the turtle. However, very quickly, they'll create more complex and interesting projects. Additionally, students will learn about functions, an extremely important programming concept. It takes a lot of skill to know how to break down a problem into functions in a way that allows you to reuse code and make your code highly readable. Parameters in particular allow you to make your functions flexible so that a single function can actually do many different things. With keyboard input, your students can make their programs interactive so that something different happens every time you run the program depending on what the user types.

Let's get started!

Commands Introduced

```
def function_name():
   statement1
   staement2
```
The code on the left is syntax for defining a function, which is a set of instructions that the computer can perform.

onkey() ```    
The onkey() function can be used to respond when the user presses a key on the keyboard.

listen() ```    
The listen() function can be used to listen for keys presses.

Vocabulary

Sprite: A computer graphic or game element that can be moved around the screen and understood as a single entity.
Turtle Graphics: Turtle graphics uses a "turtle," which functions as the reference point on a Cartesian plane. It's quite commonly to introduce kids to computer graphics using turtle graphics.
Turtle Screen: The turtle screen defines the graphics window where you will draw using the turtle object.
Turtle Object: The turtle object is the object or cursor that will do all of the drawing.
Coordinate System: The turtle screen coordinate system is similar to the standard Cartesian coordinate system, with the following important differences:
- the point (0, 0) is found in the center of the turtle screen
- x-values increase as you move from left to right (this is the same as the Cartesian coordinate system)
- y-values increase as you move from bottom to top
Scope: A scope defines the visibility of a name within a section of code. For this course, we'll just differentiate between two levels of scope: global and local.
Global Scope: Identifiers defined in global scope can be seen by all of the program. Any identifier defined outside of functions are in global scope.
Local Scope: Identifiers defined inside functions are in local scope and can only be seen by other code in the same scope.
Function: A function is a set of organized code that is used to perform a single action. Functions make your program more modular and allows you to reuse code more easily. In Python, function definitions begin with the keyword "def" followed by the function name, open and close parentheses, and a colon. Because Python doesn't use curly braces to encapsulate functions, proper indentation is required. Each line of code within the function must be indented.
Function Parameter: Functions can be defined with parameters. Parameters allow external information to be passed into functions, allowing for greater flexibility in how the function works. Parameters are added inside the parentheses of function definitions and are separated by commas.
Event Listener: Although keyboard and mouse events are automatically fired when a user interacts with their keyboard or mouse, Python cannot respond to these events unless an event listener is created and added to the document. An event listener tells the document to wait and "listen" for a certain event to fire.
Event Handler: Event handlers are special functions that are called by event listeners once an event is detected. They should contain the code you want to run when the event occurs.
Keyboard Events: In Python, whenever a user interacts with a keyboard, such as pressing or releasing a key, there is a keyboard event. Note:The "screen.onkey" function is specific to Turtle, not Python in general.

Objectives

Students will...

Use pen drawing to make the turtle draw
Create custom shapes using the turtle object
Apply concepts from this lesson to set up a turtle screen, change the screen's background color, and move the turtle object
Apply knowledge of the coordinate system to turtle graphics
Practice using functions
Create a program that reacts to keyboard and mouse input
Create a sprite to represent the player

Materials

Computers, laptops, or Chromebooks (1 per student) with student account access to Tynker.com

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Warm-Up 1

Pair up students. Then ask them to discuss the following:

Pretend you're playing a board game. With a partner, use pseudocode to write a function that includes all the steps to roll a dice. Note: If this is too challenging for students, ask them to think of a chore that needs to be completed in different rooms, such as taking out the trash. Can they list and order the steps for taking out the trash? Once students finish writing down the steps, explain that they just wrote pseudocode for a "taking out the trash" function! What other chores or activities can they think of that requires the same instructions to be repeated?

Warm-Up 2

Pair up students. Then ask them to discuss the following:

What's an example of how the user can use key presses to control a character in a game? (Example: Use the arrow keys on a keyboard to move a character.)
Key presses are one example of user input. Who can think of another example? (Example: Using a touchpad or touchscreen.)

Commands Introduced

```
def function_name():
   statement1
   staement2
```
: The code on the left is syntax for defining a function, which is a set of instructions that the computer can perform.

onkey() ```    
: The onkey() function can be used to respond when the user presses a key on the keyboard.

listen() ```    
: The listen() function can be used to listen for keys presses.

Activities (45 minutes)

Facilitate as students complete all Turtle Graphics modules on their own:

1. The Turtle API (Document)

Students will read a short document that introduces main concepts such as the turtle tool and the turtle application programming interface.
Optional: Ask students what they know about turtle graphics. Have they ever drawn shapes using code?

2. Setting up the Screen (Activity)

Students will learn how to import the turtle module.
Check that students are exploring the coding activity, which encourages students to change the
background to their favorite color.

3. Creating Turtles (Activity)

In this activity, students will learn how to create a turtle object.
Inform students that later today, they'll learn how to draw fun shapes and graphs using the turtle.

4. What Is a Sprite? (Document)

Students will read a short document that explains sprites.
Check that students are exploring the Do It Yourself coding activity, which encourages students to create multiple sprites and give them different colors.

5. Moving and Drawing with the Turtle (DIY)

In this activity, students will learn how to move and draw using code.
Encourage students to move the turtle in different directions.
Make sure students look at the provided code and understand how it works. Then ask them to change the code and see how it affects their program.
Did students finish early? Encourage them to keep practicing and try drawing more shapes.

6. Writing Your Own Functions (Document)

Students will read a short document that introduces functions.
Make sure students read the document, which explains how functions are defined and called.
Students will also look at provided examples of functions.

7. Responding to Key Presses (Document)

Students will read a short document that describes key detection.
Check that students are exploring the coding sections which demonstrate how to use the "listen" command and "onkey" functions.

8. Asteroid (DIY)

In this lesson, students will apply everything they've learned so far to create a portion of an asteroid game.
This tutorial only provides code for part of the game. It is up to your students to finish the game on their own. Encourage students to start somewhere easy, such as defining a backward movement function so the ship can move backwards. Their code might look something like this:

def forward()def right() :
    ship.right(10)
                        
def left() :
    ship.left(10)
            
def forward() :
    ship.forward(5)

def backward() :
    ship.backward(5)
            
screen.onkey(right, "Right")
screen.onkey(left, "Left")
screen.onkey(forward, "Up")
screen.onkey(backward, "Down")
screen.listen()

Do students need additional help finishing their game? Ask them to read over the last section of the tutorial, which provides suggestions on where to start.

9. Turtle Review (Document)

Students will read a short document that reviews what they've learned so far about the turtle module.
Encourage students to thoroughly read the document to help them prepare for the next lesson.

10. User Interaction Review (Document)

Students will brush up on what they've learned so far about user interaction.
Time permitting, ask students to quiz each other on the provided topics.

Extended Activities (10 minutes)

Ask your students:

What is Python turtle graphics used for? (Answers will vary.)
What is an example of user input? (Answers will vary.)
What are some benefits of using functions? (Answers will vary.)
What's something you learned today about parameters? (Answers will vary.)

Intro to Python

Answer Key

Module 8: Asteroids

U.S. Standards

U.K. Standards

Key stage 3

Key stage 4

Lesson 4: Turtle Graphics

Description

What Students Learn

Technical Requirements

Python Basics

Conditionals

Variables

Turtle Graphics

Game Design

Capstone Project

Lesson 4 : Turtle Graphics
Python Game Design

Introduction

Commands Introduced

Vocabulary

Objectives

Materials

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Commands Introduced

Activities (45 minutes)

Extended Activities (10 minutes)

Intro to Python

Answer Key

Module 8: Asteroids

U.S. Standards

U.K. Standards

Key stage 3

Key stage 4

Lesson 4: Turtle Graphics

Description

What Students Learn

Technical Requirements

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