Coding fundamentals

Lesson description: Explore the coding concepts of functions, loops, and if/then statements with mini-projects that can be added to games like color changing platforms and traps.

Lesson objectives	Demonstrate the logic of if/then statements by modifying a part's properties. Practice troubleshooting by independently fixing issues in scripts as encountered.
Skills and concepts	Property - Something that controls how an object looks or behaves, like color or if players can walk through it. Loop - A set of code that repeats until told otherwise. Function - A set of instructions can be e re-used in different parts of a script.

Overview

Duration	Activity	Description
5 min	Introduction	Introduce the session.
20 min	Guided Tutorial: Working with Properties	Modify the color properties of parts using scripts.
35 min	Guided Tutorial: Coding a Trap	Code a trap using functions and if/then statements.
5 min	Wrap-up	Reflect on project and recap concepts learned.

Lesson plan

Introduction

Explain today's session will be different mini-projects to develop skills in scripting
- Important to understand these concepts since adventure game will have more scripts.
- Point out these projects, like a trap, can be included in the adventure game project they'll start in Session 3.

Guided tutorial - Work with properties

Lead students through the following tutorials:
- Object Properties
- Parents and Children
Encourage students to troubleshoot independently if they have an error. To help, have them try:
- Redoing their last few steps.
- Asking a peer for help.
As students write code, check that students write comments that accurately describe the code.
- Not Specific: Runs code
- Improved: Changes color of PracticePart

Guided tutorial - Code a trap

Lead students through the following tutorials:
When working with if statements, check that students indent code to look like code samples. This helps make the code more readable, which becomes important as scripts grow larger.

Wrap-up

Recap what students have created and vocabulary: property, loop, and function.
Point out in the next session, students will start a new project where they make an adventure game.

Appendix

Troubleshooting and classroom tips

While coding, remind students to double-check their capitalization or ask a peer to check their work. Even one incorrect letter can cause an error in longer words like FindFirstChildWhichIsA.
Try the following below to help students develop troubleshooting skills.
- Purposely make a mistake in your code and ask students to identify the error. This can be easily turned into a game.
- Write a partial line of code and ask students to complete it.
- Utilize 'Ask 3 Before Me' where students ask three peers before asking the teacher for help. It's important for students to become comfortable independently troubleshooting as they advance to more complex projects.