Enroll in Middle School Coding with Dolphin STEM Academy
Learning Python and Javascript
Building on the prior prerequisite course, expand your knowledge of programming languages and web development by further exploring Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Analyze the differences between web development and web application development, while growing your portfolio, which will serve to highlight everything you have learned and created in the course.
Unit 1: How to Train Your Python
Python is a great language for beginners to learn the ins and outs of programming. Now that you’ve written a few programs and learned the basics, you’re no longer a newbie! It’s time to start learning some more intermediate Python skills. We will investigate how lists help keep us organized in real life as well as in our programs. And we’ll keep our skills functioning smoothly by learning how to use Python functions. Get ready to train your Python!
What will you learn in this unit?
Define and use the list data structure in Python
Iterate over a list in Python using for and while loops
Write user-defined functions in Python
Re-structure programs to use functions for greater efficiency
Unit 2: Plan the Code, Code the Plan
When it comes to weekends, life goals, and code, planning is quite important! In fact, planning is so essential in programming that it may just save lives. One of the most common ways to plan code is to use a tool called pseudocode. You’ll get to see some examples and then start writing your own pseudocode for a text-based adventure game. We’re going to plan the code and then code the plan!
What will you learn in this unit?
Write a basic, high-level, structured plan for a program
Convert a high-level plan to pseudocode
Define and apply the iterative process to pseudocode and coding
Write Python code for a basic text-based adventure game
Unit 3: Build a Webpage
We all use the internet, but what is it, exactly? How do all of your favorite webpages work behind the scenes? And what does it take to be a web programmer? All of these questions (and more) will be answered! You’ll learn two new languages, HTML and CSS, and use them to make your very own webpage. Get ready to take your coding skills in a new direction!
What will you learn in this unit?
Explain the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web
Understand how websites are transferred from servers to computers
Identify and use common HTML tags to build a basic webpage
Use CSS to apply style to an HTML document
Middle School Coding 1b Midterm Exam
Review information acquired and mastered from this course up to this point.
Take a course exam based on material from the first three units in this course (Note: You will be able to open this exam only one time.)
Unit 4: Give Your Webpage Some Style
HTML and CSS are markup languages that help us format webpages. It’s time to take our skills to the next level by dividing a webpage into sections and applying some interesting styles to them. And then, we’ll play a fun hide-and-seek game…with red pandas! Bet you didn’t see that coming! Finally, we’ll interact with our webpage by using a bit of JavaScript. Bring on the fun!
What will you learn in this unit?
Understand and apply the div tag to section-off webpages
Apply new CSS properties to div elements by using an id
Use a variety of HTML and CSS to create a webpage with pictures that appear when clicked on or hovered over
Write a basic JavaScript function
Use JavaScript event listeners to trigger an alert box
Unit 5: Buttons and Gadgets
HTML and CSS are great for making static webpages, but by adding JavaScript into the mix, we open up a whole new range of possibilities! Did you ever think you’d be making your very own calculator? We will use JavaScript to create buttons that display the date, calculate the product or quotient of two numbers, and submit passwords. We’ll also explore how to use if/else statements and while/for loops in this language. And what do shoulders and surfing have to do with any of this? Let’s find out!
What will you learn in this unit?
Implement buttons in HTML that trigger a JavaScript function when clicked
Write user-defined JavaScript functions
Implement HTML web forms with text fields and buttons
Understand and use if/else statements in JavaScript
Understand and use while/for loops in JavaScript
Unit 6: Become a Master Exterminator!
Bugs are all around us! No, we’re not talking about insects outside—we’re talking about bugs (errors) in our code! No matter how much of an expert programmer you are, you will always have to deal with mistakes in your code. Some may be the equivalent of ladybugs—totally harmless and maybe even a tad adorable—while others may be catastrophically huge actaeon beetles. (Have you ever seen one? You’ll never forget it if you have!) Once you’ve learned the tips and tricks in this unit, you will be better equipped to find and fix those annoying bugs in your programs, regardless of the language you’re coding in. Don’t worry—no repellent will be needed. These bugs won’t bite or sting! But maybe you’d better bring your swatter, just in case…
What will you learn in this unit?
Define and complete a trace table to find errors
Use the debugger tool in REPL.it
Identify common mistakes in Python and JavaScript
Use a try except statement to anticipate errors in Python
Use a try catch statement to anticipate errors in JavaScript
Middle School Coding 1b Final Exam
Review information acquired and mastered from this course up to this point.
Take a course exam based on material from all units in this course. (Note: You will be able to open this exam only one time.)
