Learning objective
Text Coding
Text-Based Coding
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Transitioning from visual block coding to typed programming syntax, strict language rules, and text-based program execution.
Step 1: Code Typing
Recognise that text code consists of typed letters, numbers, and symbols requiring precise keyboard entry.
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Learn
Text-based coding uses typed words and punctuation instead of drag-and-drop blocks. Computers require exact spelling and matching symbols to execute instructions.
Try it yourself
Typing First Commands
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Or try locally: 🍓 Raspberry Pi Python
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identifies typed text code as instructions for a computer.
Developing
Types simple programming commands following a visual guide.
Secure (Goal)
Accurately types text code statements without missing letters or quotes.
Mastery
Explains why exact typing is required for computers to process text code.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Step 1: Code Typing includes:
- Core Deliverable: Typing First Commands
- Target Quality: Accurately types text code statements without missing letters or quotes.
- Excellence & Polish: Explains why exact typing is required for computers to process text code.
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⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See-Think-Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identifies typed text code as instructions for a computer.
- Developing: Types simple programming commands following a visual guide.
- Secure: Accurately types text code statements without missing letters or quotes.
- Mastering: Explains why exact typing is required for computers to process text code.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: coding/text-coding
Outcome: AP.01.B.1.1 — Recognise that text code consists of typed letters, numbers, and symbols requiring precise keyboard entry.
PYP: Form · Written symbols and structured rules allow humans to communicate precise instructions to computers.
Learner profile: Inquirer
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 2: Step 2: Syntax Rules
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Step 2: Syntax Rules
Follow strict syntax rules including capitalization, parentheses, and quotes when typing code statements.
Learning objective
Students learn the core rules of text syntax including function names, parentheses, and string quotes.
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Learn
Syntax is the grammar of programming languages. In Python, function names are case-sensitive, arguments sit inside parentheses (), and text strings must be enclosed in quotation marks.
Try it yourself
Fixing Syntax Errors
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🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identifies parentheses and quotes in a line of text code.
Developing
Distinguishes between valid text commands and syntax errors.
Secure (Goal)
Writes syntactically correct output statements using proper punctuation.
Mastery
Teaches peers how to fix syntax errors like missing brackets or unclosed quotes.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Step 2: Syntax Rules includes:
- Core Deliverable: Fixing Syntax Errors
- Target Quality: Writes syntactically correct output statements using proper punctuation.
- Excellence & Polish: Teaches peers how to fix syntax errors like missing brackets or unclosed quotes.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Think-Pair-Share
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identifies parentheses and quotes in a line of text code.
- Developing: Distinguishes between valid text commands and syntax errors.
- Secure: Writes syntactically correct output statements using proper punctuation.
- Mastering: Teaches peers how to fix syntax errors like missing brackets or unclosed quotes.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: coding/text-coding
Outcome: AP.01.B.1.1 — Follow strict syntax rules including capitalization, parentheses, and quotes when typing code statements.
PYP: Function · Computer languages rely on strict syntax structures to interpret human logic consistently.
Learner profile: Communicator
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 3: Step 3: Sequential Scripts
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Step 3: Sequential Scripts
Write and execute multi-line text scripts that run instructions sequentially from top to bottom.
Learning objective
Students write multi-line text programs that execute sequence steps in precise order.
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Learn
Text programs execute line by line, starting at line 1 and moving downward. Changing the order of lines changes the sequence of output actions.
Try it yourself
Building a Dialogue Script
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Or try locally: 🍓 Raspberry Pi Python
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Traces the order of lines in a 3-line text script.
Developing
Constructs a multi-line text script to display sequential story dialogue.
Secure (Goal)
Predicts exact output sequence of complex multi-line text programs.
Mastery
Reorders script lines to optimize output clarity and logical flow.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Step 3: Sequential Scripts includes:
- Core Deliverable: Building a Dialogue Script
- Target Quality: Predicts exact output sequence of complex multi-line text programs.
- Excellence & Polish: Reorders script lines to optimize output clarity and logical flow.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Predict & Verify
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Traces the order of lines in a 3-line text script.
- Developing: Constructs a multi-line text script to display sequential story dialogue.
- Secure: Predicts exact output sequence of complex multi-line text programs.
- Mastering: Reorders script lines to optimize output clarity and logical flow.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: coding/text-coding
Outcome: AP.02.B.1.1 — Write and execute multi-line text scripts that run instructions sequentially from top to bottom.
PYP: Change · Sequential code execution creates predictable outcomes in automated story narratives and calculations.
Learner profile: Thinker
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 4: Step 4: Variables & Input
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Step 4: Variables & Input
Store, manipulate, and format typed text variables and interactive user inputs.
Learning objective
Students learn to create text variables, collect user inputs with input(), and output formatted responses.
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Learn
Variables store values using an assignment operator (=), like name = 'Alex'. The input() function asks the user a question and saves their typed response into a variable for later use.
Try it yourself
Building a Greeting Generator
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🍓 Raspberry Pi Python
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identifies variable assignment using the equals sign (=) in text code.
Developing
Captures user input using input() and stores it in a named variable.
Secure (Goal)
Formats string concatenation and f-strings to display dynamic personalized outputs.
Mastery
Designs an interactive text chatbot that prompts for user data and remembers choices.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Step 4: Variables & Input includes:
- Core Deliverable: Building a Greeting Generator
- Target Quality: Formats string concatenation and f-strings to display dynamic personalized outputs.
- Excellence & Polish: Designs an interactive text chatbot that prompts for user data and remembers choices.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Connect-Extend-Challenge
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identifies variable assignment using the equals sign (=) in text code.
- Developing: Captures user input using input() and stores it in a named variable.
- Secure: Formats string concatenation and f-strings to display dynamic personalized outputs.
- Mastering: Designs an interactive text chatbot that prompts for user data and remembers choices.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: coding/text-coding
Outcome: AP.02.B.1.1 — Store, manipulate, and format typed text variables and interactive user inputs.
PYP: Connection · Storing dynamic information in variables enables personalized and interactive computer programs.
Learner profile: Principled
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 5: Step 5: Conditionals & Indent
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Step 5: Conditionals & Indent
Write structured if/else conditional statements using comparative operators and strict block indentation.
Learning objective
Students write text-based if/elif/else statements using comparison operators (==, >, <) and 4-space indentation.
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Learn
Text-based decisions use if, elif, and else keywords followed by a colon (:). Code inside each decision branch MUST be indented (typically 4 spaces) to show it belongs to that branch.
Try it yourself
Building a Passcode Checker
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🍓 Raspberry Pi Python
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identifies the if and else keywords in a Python script.
Developing
Applies correct indentation to code blocks inside if/else branches.
Secure (Goal)
Writes conditional text programs using dynamic comparison conditions.
Mastery
Constructs multi-branch decision trees using if, elif, and else clauses.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Step 5: Conditionals & Indent includes:
- Core Deliverable: Building a Passcode Checker
- Target Quality: Writes conditional text programs using dynamic comparison conditions.
- Excellence & Polish: Constructs multi-branch decision trees using if, elif, and else clauses.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: 4 Cs (Connections, Concepts, Changes, Challenges)
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identifies the if and else keywords in a Python script.
- Developing: Applies correct indentation to code blocks inside if/else branches.
- Secure: Writes conditional text programs using dynamic comparison conditions.
- Mastering: Constructs multi-branch decision trees using if, elif, and else clauses.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: coding/text-coding
Outcome: AP.03.B.1.1 — Write structured if/else conditional statements using comparative operators and strict block indentation.
PYP: Perspective · Conditional structures allow text programs to make dynamic decisions based on varying criteria.
Learner profile: Knowledgeable
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 6: Step 6: Loops & Functions
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Step 6: Loops & Functions
Define reusable text functions with def and construct count-controlled for loops and condition-controlled while loops.
Learning objective
Students define custom functions with def and implement text for/while loops to solve complex programming tasks.
Let's Go!
Learn
Use `for i in range(n):` to repeat code `n` times, or `while condition:` for continuous execution. Use `def function_name():` to wrap reusable code blocks into custom named functions.
Try it yourself
Building a Mini Text Game Engine
🚀 Open a practice space
Or try locally: 🍓 Raspberry Pi Python
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Recognizes for, while, and def keywords in a Python script.
Developing
Constructs a for loop in Python to repeat an action a fixed number of times.
Secure (Goal)
Defines custom functions with parameters to eliminate repeated code.
Mastery
Builds a complete text-based adventure game utilizing functions, loops, variables, and conditionals.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Step 6: Loops & Functions includes:
- Core Deliverable: Building a Mini Text Game Engine
- Target Quality: Defines custom functions with parameters to eliminate repeated code.
- Excellence & Polish: Builds a complete text-based adventure game utilizing functions, loops, variables, and conditionals.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Headline
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Recognizes for, while, and def keywords in a Python script.
- Developing: Constructs a for loop in Python to repeat an action a fixed number of times.
- Secure: Defines custom functions with parameters to eliminate repeated code.
- Mastering: Builds a complete text-based adventure game utilizing functions, loops, variables, and conditionals.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: coding/text-coding
Outcome: AP.03.B.1.1 — Define reusable text functions with def and construct count-controlled for loops and condition-controlled while loops.
PYP: Reflection · Functions and loops allow text programmers to build modular, efficient, and scalable software solutions.
Learner profile: Reflective
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow