Coding Fundamentals

Lesson Description: Explore the coding concepts of functions, loops, and if/then statements with mini-projects that can be added to games like color changing platforms and traps.

Lesson Objectives
  • Demonstrate the logic of if/then statements by modifying a part's properties.
  • Practice troubleshooting by independently fixing issues in scripts as encountered.
Skills and Concepts
  • Property - Something that controls how an object looks or behaves, like color or if players can walk through it.
  • Loop - A set of code that repeats until told otherwise.
  • Function - A set of instructions can be e re-used in different parts of a script.

Overview

DurationActivityDescription
5 minIntroductionIntroduce the session.
20 minGuided Tutorial: Working with PropertiesModify the color properties of parts using scripts.
35 minGuided Tutorial: Coding a TrapCode a trap using functions and if/then statements.
5 minWrap-upReflect on project and recap concepts learned.

Lesson Plan

Introduction

  1. Explain today's session will be different mini-projects to develop skills in scripting

    • Important to understand these concepts since adventure game will have more scripts.
    • Point out these projects, like a trap, can be included in the adventure game project they'll start in Session 3.

Guided Tutorial - Working with Properties

  1. Lead students through the following tutorials:

  2. Encourage students to troubleshoot independently if they have an error. To help, have them try:

    • Redoing their last few steps.
    • Asking a peer for help.

  3. As students write code, check that students write comments that accurately describe the code.

    • Not Specific: Runs code
    • Improved: Changes color of PracticePart

Guided Tutorial - Coding a Trap

  1. Lead students through the following tutorials:

  2. When working with if statements, check that students indent code to look like code samples. This helps make the code more readable, which becomes important as scripts grow larger.

Wrap-up

  1. Recap what students have created and vocabulary: property, loop, and function.
  2. Point out in the next session, students will start a new project where they make an adventure game.

Appendix

Troubleshooting and Classroom Tips

  • While coding, remind students to double-check their capitalization or ask a peer to check their work. Even one incorrect letter can cause an error in longer words like FindFirstChildWhichIsA.
  • Try the following below to help students develop troubleshooting skills.
    • Purposely make a mistake in your code and ask students to identify the error. This can be easily turned into a game.
    • Write a partial line of code and ask students to complete it.
    • Utilize 'Ask 3 Before Me' where students ask three peers before asking the teacher for help. It's important for students to become comfortable independently troubleshooting as they advance to more complex projects.
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