Middle School course

Programming 301

YEARS 8-9
BEGINNER
WEB
17 LESSONS

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Answer Key

Module 2: Local Variables

Open Sample Project

Module 3: Global Variables

Open Sample Project

Module 4: Super Helicopters

Module 5: Snowball Fight

Open Sample Project

Module 6: Quiz

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

U.S. Standards

CCSS-Math: MP.1, MP.2
CCSS-ELA: RI.7.4, RI.8.4, 6-8.RST.3, 6-8.RST.4, 6-8.RST.7
CSTA: 2-AP-10, 2-AP-11, 2-AP-13, 2-AP-15, 2-AP-16, 2-AP-17
CS CA: 6-8.AP.11, 6-8.AP.12, 6-8.AP.13, 6-8.AP.15, 6-8.AP.16, 6-8.AP.17
ISTE: 1.c, 1.d, 4.d, 5.c, 5.d, 6.b

U.K. Standards

Key stage 3

Pupils should be taught to:

design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems
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
undertake creative projects that involve selecting, using, and combining multiple applications, preferably across a range of devices, to achieve challenging goals, including collecting and analysing data and meeting the needs of known users
create, reuse, revise and repurpose digital artefacts for a given audience, with attention to trustworthiness, design and usability
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 14: Variables

Course: | Web

Concepts
Local Variables
Global Variables
Super Helicopters
Snowball Fight
Quiz

Description

An advanced introduction to programming for middle school. Introduce programming fundamentals to your class as they build two arcade-inspired games from start to finish. The Adventure Game features a knight who has to defeat enemies to reach treasure. Students program arrow keys, fluid motion, hero and enemy behavior, and winning conditions. In Dragon Attack, they define multiple levels and lives, and program a boss enemy, while learning about variables and cloning.

Topics

Events
Keyboard and mouse interaction
Conditional loops
Nested loops
Sending and receiving messages
Fluid motion
Parallax scrolling
Local and global variables
Functions
Object cloning

What Students Learn

Build complex multi-level games
Use variables to keep score
Use cloning to create actors programmatically
Build algorithms using complex conditional logic
Understand parallelism with multiple scripts
Program different behaviors for different actors
Publish projects to the Web
Troubleshoot and debug 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.