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Coding For Kids For Dummies®
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Coding For Kids For Dummies®
by Camille McCue
Coding For Kids For Dummies
Introduction
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Week 1: Basic Drawing, Motion, and Text Handling
Project 0: Getting Started with Coding
Understanding What Coding Is
Learning to Code with MicroWorlds EX
Examining why MWEX is a good language to start with
Taking a look at what projects you can make
Getting Started with MicroWorlds EX
Downloading and installing the software
Starting a project
Getting to know the interface
Coming Up with Your Ideas, Your Projects
Project 1: Art Toy
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add a Title to the Toy
Add a Turtle
Test Primitives in the Command Center
Create Buttons to Execute Primitives
Write New Procedures in the Procedures Pane and Add Associated Buttons
Write the square procedure and create a button
Write the spirosquare procedure and create a button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 2: Mini Golf
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Draw a Golf Green, Water Trap, and Hole
Create a Title Text Box
Create a Golf Ball and an Obstacle
Set the Starting Position of the Golf Ball
Create Controls for Aiming and Hitting the Golf Ball
Create buttons for aiming the ball
Create buttons for hitting the ball
Code the Ball to Bump Off the Obstacle
Code Universal Color Conditionals
Create the universal color conditional for the water trap
Create the universal color conditional for the hole
Write a Watertrap Procedure
Write a Win Procedure
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 3: Sketcher Etcher
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint and Freeze the Background
Create a Drawing Stylus
Add Horizontal and Vertical Drawing Controls
Set Up Horizontal Boundary Conditions for the Stylus
Set Up Vertical Boundary Conditions for the Stylus
Make a Button to Clean Drawings
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 2: Motion, Animating Shapes, and Reacting to Input
Project 4: Horse Race
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Simulation Page
Create a Racing Horse Character
Make Copies of the Horse
Line Up the Horses at the Starting Gate
Set Up Horses to Recognize the Finish Line
Create a Button to Start the Race
Add Trotting Sounds
Make a Button to Play the Trotting Sounds
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 5: Winter Wonderland
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Scene Page
Create Bulb Characters
Create Snowflake Characters
Add Music
Write a Blink Procedure
Write a Fall Procedure
Make a Let it Snow Button
Write a Day and Night Procedure
Make a Day and Night Button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 6: Sports Vote
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add a Sports-Themed Background
Add Text for the Title and Directions
Create Candidates
Add Shapes to the Turtle Candidates
Write a Startup Procedure
Make a Bell Sound to Ring When a Vote Is Cast
Write a Get Vote Procedure and Add It to the Candidates
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 3: Variables: Counting and Conditionals
Project 7: Happy Birthday
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Apply a Hospital Theme to the Workspace
Create a Title Text Box
Create Boy and Girl Characters
Create Variables
Write an Initialize Procedure and Make an Associated Button
Write a Reproduce Procedure and Make an Associated Button
Write a Make 10 Babies Procedure and Make an Associated Button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 8: Number Guessing Computer
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Background
Create a Title Text Box
Create a Secret Number Variable
Make a Slider to Set the Maximum Value of the Secret Number
Create a Turtle and Paint Shapes for It
Write a Compchoosesecret Procedure and Make a Button
Write a Checkguess Procedure
Make a Tune Play When the Player Answers Correctly
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 9: Monster Mashup
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Color the Background and Add a Title
Create and Name Turtles for Different Monster Parts
Create and Name Hair and Face Shapes
Create and Name Body Shapes
Create and Name Feet Shapes
Make Drop-Down Lists for Each Part
Code Selection Procedures for the Drop-Down Lists and Make Buttons
Code a Procedure and Add a Button for the Monster Mashup
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 4: Keyboard Control and Shooters
Project 10: Viral Outbreak
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Color the Background and Paint a Hospital
Create a Turtle
Write an Initialize Procedure and Make a Button
Make a Clone Button and Instruction
Make a 1 Sick Button and Instruction
Make an Infect Procedure and Add It to the Turtle
Write a Health Command and Add It to the Turtle
Write a Roam Procedure and Make a Button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 11: UFO Pilot
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add a Space-Themed Background
Create a UFO Character
Create Asteroid Cluster Characters
Creating asteroid cluster turtles
Creating a cluster of asteroids for each turtle
Create a Score Variable
Write a Reset Procedure and Make a Button
Write a reset procedure
Create a Reset button
Code Gravity and Collisions
Write a Keyboard-Controlled Fly Procedure
Write a Scoring Procedure for Navigating Asteroids
Code the Motion of the Asteroids and Include the Scoring Procedure
Create a Go! Button to Start the Game
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 12: Squid Ink
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add an Ocean-Themed Background
Create an Animated Squid Character
Create an Ink Cloud Character
Create an Animated Shark Character
Write a Go Procedure and Make a Button
Write the go procedure
Create a Go button
Write a Swimshoot Procedure and Add It to the Squid
Write a Shoot Procedure
Record “Argh, Inked Again” and “Chomp” Sounds
Write a Geteaten Procedure and Add It to the Squid
Write a Hit Procedure and Add It to the Ink
Write a Float Procedure and Add It to the Shark
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 5: Advanced Coding
Project 13: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Game Page
Add a Title and Text Labels to the Game Page
Create Rock, Paper, and Scissors Characters
Make Rock, Paper, and Scissors Buttons
Write a Compchoose Procedure
Write a Checkwin Procedure
Save, Test, Debug, and Enhance
Project 14: Where’s Wallace Walrus?
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Name the Search-and-Find Page
Paint the Background of the Search Page
Create a Main Character
Create Distracter Character Shapes
Make a Slider to Vary the Number of Distracters
Write a Populate Procedure and Make a Button
Write a populate procedure
Create a Populate button
Write a Get Ready Procedure and Make a Button
Write a getready procedure
Create a Get Ready button
Add Page Directions to the Search Page
Write a Found Him Procedure and Add It to the Main Character
Create and Name the Splash Page
Paint a Background on the Splash Page
Add a Title and Backstory to the Splash Page
Add a Let’s Play to the Splash Page
Remove Turtle Tooltip Naming
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 15: Traffic Dodge
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint and Name the Level 1 Game Page
Create a Frog Character
Create Traffic Characters
Make Traffic Move
Create a Project Variable for Lives
Show Lives Remaining
Create the Splash Page
Write a Start Procedure
Make a Start Button
Move Between Pages and Add a Page Transition
Write a Play Procedure
Write a Jump Procedure and Add It to the Frog
Writing the jump procedure
Adding the jump procedure to the frog
Write a Hit Procedure and Add It to the Frog
Writing the hit procedure
Adding the hit procedure to the frog
Write an End Game Procedure
Write a Succeed Level 1 Procedure and Add It to the Frog
Write the succeed1 procedure
Add the succeed1 procedure to the frog
Lay Out and Code the Level 2 Game Page
Create the level 2 game page
Write the succeed2 procedure
Add the succeed2 procedure to the frog
Save, Test, and Debug
About the Author
Cheat Sheet
More Dummies Products
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Introduction
Coding For Kids For Dummies®
Visit
www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/codingforkids
to view this book's cheat sheet.
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Week 1: Basic Drawing, Motion, and Text Handling
Project 0: Getting Started with Coding
Understanding What Coding Is
Learning to Code with MicroWorlds EX
Examining why MWEX is a good language to start with
Taking a look at what projects you can make
Getting Started with MicroWorlds EX
Downloading and installing the software
Starting a project
Getting to know the interface
Coming Up with Your Ideas, Your Projects
Project 1: Art Toy
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add a Title to the Toy
Add a Turtle
Test Primitives in the Command Center
Create Buttons to Execute Primitives
Write New Procedures in the Procedures Pane and Add Associated Buttons
Write the square procedure and create a button
Write the spirosquare procedure and create a button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 2: Mini Golf
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Draw a Golf Green, Water Trap, and Hole
Create a Title Text Box
Create a Golf Ball and an Obstacle
Set the Starting Position of the Golf Ball
Create Controls for Aiming and Hitting the Golf Ball
Create buttons for aiming the ball
Create buttons for hitting the ball
Code the Ball to Bump Off the Obstacle
Code Universal Color Conditionals
Create the universal color conditional for the water trap
Create the universal color conditional for the hole
Write a Watertrap Procedure
Write a Win Procedure
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 3: Sketcher Etcher
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint and Freeze the Background
Create a Drawing Stylus
Add Horizontal and Vertical Drawing Controls
Set Up Horizontal Boundary Conditions for the Stylus
Set Up Vertical Boundary Conditions for the Stylus
Make a Button to Clean Drawings
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 2: Motion, Animating Shapes, and Reacting to Input
Project 4: Horse Race
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Simulation Page
Create a Racing Horse Character
Make Copies of the Horse
Line Up the Horses at the Starting Gate
Set Up Horses to Recognize the Finish Line
Create a Button to Start the Race
Add Trotting Sounds
Make a Button to Play the Trotting Sounds
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 5: Winter Wonderland
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Scene Page
Create Bulb Characters
Create Snowflake Characters
Add Music
Write a Blink Procedure
Write a Fall Procedure
Make a Let it Snow Button
Write a Day and Night Procedure
Make a Day and Night Button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 6: Sports Vote
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add a Sports-Themed Background
Add Text for the Title and Directions
Create Candidates
Add Shapes to the Turtle Candidates
Write a Startup Procedure
Make a Bell Sound to Ring When a Vote Is Cast
Write a Get Vote Procedure and Add It to the Candidates
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 3: Variables: Counting and Conditionals
Project 7: Happy Birthday
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Apply a Hospital Theme to the Workspace
Create a Title Text Box
Create Boy and Girl Characters
Create Variables
Write an Initialize Procedure and Make an Associated Button
Write a Reproduce Procedure and Make an Associated Button
Write a Make 10 Babies Procedure and Make an Associated Button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 8: Number Guessing Computer
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Background
Create a Title Text Box
Create a Secret Number Variable
Make a Slider to Set the Maximum Value of the Secret Number
Create a Turtle and Paint Shapes for It
Write a Compchoosesecret Procedure and Make a Button
Write a Checkguess Procedure
Make a Tune Play When the Player Answers Correctly
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 9: Monster Mashup
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Color the Background and Add a Title
Create and Name Turtles for Different Monster Parts
Create and Name Hair and Face Shapes
Create and Name Body Shapes
Create and Name Feet Shapes
Make Drop-Down Lists for Each Part
Code Selection Procedures for the Drop-Down Lists and Make Buttons
Code a Procedure and Add a Button for the Monster Mashup
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 4: Keyboard Control and Shooters
Project 10: Viral Outbreak
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Color the Background and Paint a Hospital
Create a Turtle
Write an Initialize Procedure and Make a Button
Make a Clone Button and Instruction
Make a 1 Sick Button and Instruction
Make an Infect Procedure and Add It to the Turtle
Write a Health Command and Add It to the Turtle
Write a Roam Procedure and Make a Button
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 11: UFO Pilot
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add a Space-Themed Background
Create a UFO Character
Create Asteroid Cluster Characters
Creating asteroid cluster turtles
Creating a cluster of asteroids for each turtle
Create a Score Variable
Write a Reset Procedure and Make a Button
Write a reset procedure
Create a Reset button
Code Gravity and Collisions
Write a Keyboard-Controlled Fly Procedure
Write a Scoring Procedure for Navigating Asteroids
Code the Motion of the Asteroids and Include the Scoring Procedure
Create a Go! Button to Start the Game
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 12: Squid Ink
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Add an Ocean-Themed Background
Create an Animated Squid Character
Create an Ink Cloud Character
Create an Animated Shark Character
Write a Go Procedure and Make a Button
Write the go procedure
Create a Go button
Write a Swimshoot Procedure and Add It to the Squid
Write a Shoot Procedure
Record “Argh, Inked Again” and “Chomp” Sounds
Write a Geteaten Procedure and Add It to the Squid
Write a Hit Procedure and Add It to the Ink
Write a Float Procedure and Add It to the Shark
Save, Test, and Debug
Week 5: Advanced Coding
Project 13: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint the Game Page
Add a Title and Text Labels to the Game Page
Create Rock, Paper, and Scissors Characters
Make Rock, Paper, and Scissors Buttons
Write a Compchoose Procedure
Write a Checkwin Procedure
Save, Test, Debug, and Enhance
Project 14: Where’s Wallace Walrus?
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Name the Search-and-Find Page
Paint the Background of the Search Page
Create a Main Character
Create Distracter Character Shapes
Make a Slider to Vary the Number of Distracters
Write a Populate Procedure and Make a Button
Write a populate procedure
Create a Populate button
Write a Get Ready Procedure and Make a Button
Write a getready procedure
Create a Get Ready button
Add Page Directions to the Search Page
Write a Found Him Procedure and Add It to the Main Character
Create and Name the Splash Page
Paint a Background on the Splash Page
Add a Title and Backstory to the Splash Page
Add a Let’s Play to the Splash Page
Remove Turtle Tooltip Naming
Save, Test, and Debug
Project 15: Traffic Dodge
Brainstorm
Start a New Project
Paint and Name the Level 1 Game Page
Create a Frog Character
Create Traffic Characters
Make Traffic Move
Create a Project Variable for Lives
Show Lives Remaining
Create the Splash Page
Write a Start Procedure
Make a Start Button
Move Between Pages and Add a Page Transition
Write a Play Procedure
Write a Jump Procedure and Add It to the Frog
Writing the jump procedure
Adding the jump procedure to the frog
Write a Hit Procedure and Add It to the Frog
Writing the hit procedure
Adding the hit procedure to the frog
Write an End Game Procedure
Write a Succeed Level 1 Procedure and Add It to the Frog
Write the succeed1 procedure
Add the succeed1 procedure to the frog
Lay Out and Code the Level 2 Game Page
Create the level 2 game page
Write the succeed2 procedure
Add the succeed2 procedure to the frog
Save, Test, and Debug
About the Author
Cheat Sheet
More Dummies Products
Guide
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
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