Getting Started with Coding

Introduction 2 About This Book 2 About You 3 About the Icons 4 The First Step 5 Project 1: Get Started 6 Understanding What Coding Is 6 Learning to Code with MicroWorlds EX 7 Examining why MicroWorlds EX is a good language to start with 7 Taking a look at what projects you can make 8 Getting Started with MicroWorlds EX 8 Downloading and installing the software 9 Starting a project 9 Getting to know the interface 10 Coming Up with Your Ideas and Your Projects 14 Project 2: Quick Draw 15 Brainstorm 15 Game Plan 15 Start a New Project 17 Add a Turtle 17 Code in the Command Center 18 Set Background Color 18 Change Pen Color 19 Send an Object Home 19 Draw Lines 20 Turn 20 Change Pen Features 21 Add a Title 21 Put Commands Together 22 Create Buttons 23 Clean 24 Write Procedures 25 Design Your GUI 27 Save, Test, and Debug 29 Last Look ... Big Ideas in Coding 29 Project 3: Coin Flipper 31 Brainstorm 31 Game Plan 32 Start a New Project 33 Apply a Background 33 Add a Turtle 34 Resize the Turtle 34 Create Coin Shapes 36 Create Counters 38 Write a Reset Procedure 40 Create a Reset Button 40 Write a Flip Procedure 42 Create a Flip Button 43 Create Many Flips Procedures and Buttons 43 Save, Test, and Debug 46 Last Look ... Big Ideas in Coding 46 Project 4: Space Race 48 Brainstorm 48 Game Plan 49 Start a New Project 50 Apply a Background 50 Add an Astronaut 51 Name the Astronaut 52 Put Astronaut at Start Position 53 Create Space Junk Characters 53 Animate the Space Junk 55 Resize the Turtles 55 Control the Astronaut 56 Write a Go Procedure 58 Make a Go Button 58 Watch Out for Hits! 59 Win the Game! 60 Save, Test, and Debug 61 Last Look ... Big Ideas in Coding 62 Project 5: Ha Ha Headlines 64 Brainstorm 64 Game Plan 65 Start a New Project 66 Apply a Background 66 Make a Headline Box 67 Write a Writenews Procedure 68 Make a Write the News! Button 70 Let's Make Some News! 70 Save, Test, and Debug 73 Last Look ... Big Ideas in Coding 74 Project 6: Find Friendly 75 Brainstorm 75 Game Plan 75 Start a New Project 77 Add Friendly 77 Know When Friendly Is Found 79 Add Family Members 80 Add a Timer 80 Write a Reset Procedure 82 Write a Findfriendly Procedure 83 Make a Play Button 84 Final Touches 85 Save, Test, and Debug 87 Last Look ... Big Ideas in Coding 88 Project 7: Hungry Bobo 89 Brainstorm 89 Game Plan 90 Start a New Project 92 Apply a Background 92 Add Bobo 93 Name Bobo 96 Add a Sound 97 Add a Banana 99 Name the Banana 100 Create a Hunger Variable 101 Write a Reset Procedure 102 Make a Reset Button 103 Write a Live Procedure 103 Add Live to Bobo's Backpack 104 Write an Eatfood Procedure 105 Add Eatfood to Bobo's Backpack 106 Write and Add a Geteaten Procedure 106 Save, Test, and Debug 108 Last Look ... Big Ideas in Coding 109 Author Notes 110 How to Create a Game Plan When Writing a MicroWorlds EX Computer Program 110 Plan your design and graphics 110 Create character actions 110 Code the actions 111 How to Publish Your MicroWorlds EX Apps on the Web 112 Output your project in HTML 112 Upload your project to the web 113 Help your website visitors install the MicroWorlds EX plug-in 113 Glossary 115