You pick apples one by one. Each time, you count one more. You remember the number in your head.
set stars to 0
say stars
A box with a name
The robot remembers numbers in a box. This box is called stars. Set stars to 0 puts a 0 inside. Say stars shows it.
set stars to 0
add 1 to stars
add 1 to stars
say stars
Add 1 to the box
Add 1 to stars makes the number one bigger. The box had 0. After two adds, it holds 2.
set stars to 0
move right
collect the star
add 1 to stars
move right
collect the star
add 1 to stars
say stars
Count what you collect
Each time the robot collects a star, it adds 1 to the box. At the end it says how many it got.
For parents
Goal: Your child learns that a program can keep a number in a named box (a variable), start it at 0, add 1 to it, and say what is inside.
Call it the counting box. The word variable can come later.
As the robot runs, ask: what number is in the box right now?
Point out that set stars to 0 always empties the box back to 0.
Away from the screen: Give your child a small cup and some beans. Say set to 0 and they empty the cup. Say add 1 and they drop in one bean. At the end, ask what is in the box.