Here is a program you can read. The robot moves right two times. Then it grabs the star. Tap Run the program to watch.
move_right()
move_right()
collect()
The same program as code
This is the very same program, written as code. Each block is one line. The block move right is move_right(). The collect block is collect().
move_right()The robot knows thismove rightThe robot is stuck
Spell it just right
The computer is very fussy. Put a low line between the two words. End with two round brackets. Then the robot understands.
repeat 3 times
move down
collect the star
A repeat block
This program has a repeat block. The robot moves down three times. Then it grabs the star.
repeat 3:
move_down()
collect()
Repeat as code
The repeat block becomes repeat 3: with a colon at the end. The lines inside move in four spaces. That shows they belong to the repeat.
move_up()
move_right()
move_right()
collect()
You can read code
Count the lines. Each line is one block. Next year you will type lines like these yourself.
For parents
Goal: Your child sees that each block is really one line of code, like move_right() or repeat 3:. This is the last Grade 2 lesson and gets them ready to type code in Grade 3. Three labs follow: build with blocks while a See it as code panel shows the lines, guess where a program stops, and build a repeat program.
In the robot labs, open See it as code and point to each line. Ask: which block is this?
Spell move_right() together, with the low line and the two brackets.
Ask: how many lines are there? That is how many blocks there are.
Away from the screen: Write move_up(), move_down(), move_left() and move_right() on four cards. Hold one up, and your child takes one step that way.