Codecademy Javascript or Python

Year(s): 5 or 6 Time: up to six 1 hour sessions

Activity Summary
Codecademy.com (pronounced Code Academy) is a website that teaches students to code independently. This activity leads students through getting started with Codecademy and gets them taking their own courses.

Resource Contents

Codecademy Javascript or Python ............................................................................................... 1

Activity Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Resource Contents ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Teacher Guide .................................................................................................................................... 2

Overview................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Lesson Plans ................................................................................................................................................. 3

Codecademy: Student Guide ........................................................................................................... 7

Teacher Guide
Codecademy.com is a great way to teach yourself and others how to code. You can dive in straight away and try it out if you like, but well focus on how to use it to teach your students about HTML, Javascript and Python. First, go to http://www.codecademy.com/schools/curriculum/ an enter your school and email address. This will give you access to their Computing Curriculum resources. Take a moment to see whats there. Weve divided the resources into three sections: HTML, Javascript and Python. This is a lot to cover, so you might want to choose one of Javascript or Python. Each lesson is one hour long and you will ideally need a projector, and a laptop or computer for each student. Each student should create their own Codecademy account to save their progress.

Overview
Each lesson is a series of presentations, quizzes and activities, each lasting around 10 minutes. Depending on your group, you may want to dispense of the presentations and quizzes and focus on the activities (which in themselves will teach them everything they need). More advanced students may be given more freedom to work at their own pace. Most importantly, run through the presentations, quizzes and activities in advance yourself you only need to be one step ahead of the students!

Lesson Plans

Term 1: HTML and CSS Start each lesson by going to: www.codecademy.com/schools/curriculum/resources All the presentations, quizzes and activities are linked from that page. Lesson 1 Introduction to HTML Begin with a summary of the Codecademy materials and the plan to learn how to make real websites. (5 mins) Run through the Introduction to HTML presentation and get the students to do the quiz. When they have completed that (and shown you their score) they can go back and click the Codecademy Course link and then the Practice Set. (25 mins) If anyone finishes they can start the next Codecademy Course (Learning to use HTML) You may only have time to complete the first half of this lesson, especially if you have teething problems accessing or signing in to the site. Learning to use HTML Again, run through the presentation and instruct them to do the quiz and the activities. (30 minutes) They can show you when they are finished, and can look ahead at the next Course if they have time.

Lesson 2

HTML and Email Now that the students are familiar with the structure of the lessons, things should progress more quickly. As before, run through the presentation, and they complete the quizzes and the Course. History and Future of the Web As before, complete the presentation, quizzes and Course, looking ahead at HTML and Forms if there is time.

Lesson 3

HTML and Forms and Search Engine Optimization Presentations, quizzes and Course (feel free to play with the format if you like).

Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6

Introduction to CSS and Learning to use CSS Separation of Concerns and 3 Ways to use CSS Utilities: Reusing Code and Launching your own website

Term 2: jQuery jQuery is a simplified, but very powerful, form of Javascript. The concepts being learned here are more complex, so take these lessons more slowly. The structure is the same as before, however run through the presentation, answering any questions, and then they complete the activities.

Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 (optional)

Introduction to jQuery Syntax and Structure Abstraction Events Identifying Events Tying it together Effects

Term 3: Python Python is another programming language, like Javascript. You can use it to control websites or more complex applications. The Codecademy Python materials have not been released yet this resource will be updated when they are.

Codecademy: Student Guide

Codecademy.com is a website where anyone can learn to code. You are going to use this website to learn about how to create and control real websites. When your teacher tells you to, go to www.codecademy.com (make sure you spell it right!) Create an account, and have a click around to see what you can do. Then go to http://www.codecademy.com/schools/curriculum/resources and follow your teachers instructions.