How to Teach Kids Python: All You Need to Know

With the launch of CodeMonkey’s newest Python course, Banana Tales, it’s the perfect time for a Python deep dive so you know all about the popular language before teaching it to your students.

What is Python?

Python was developed in 1991 by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum to meet his vision of an easy and intuitive computer language that could compete with more complicated alternatives. Since then, Python has proven to be a widely-used coding language that sets itself apart. Rossum was an innovator in his vision of creating a text-based programming language that’s not only useful but also easy to learn and implement.

Why is Python so popular?

With libraries of ready-made code, English-like mechanisms, and broad uses, Python remains a clear choice for many developers.

Open-Sourced: Python has proven itself as one of the most-used programming languages largely because it is open-source. Since anyone can contribute to the development of Python, programmers can import libraries with ready-made code to create programs more efficiently.

Easy Syntax: The way Python code is written is fairly similar to English, making it almost as easy to understand as the spoken language. Python is formatted with a clean, streamlined design as it does not have many punctuation marks (i.e., it does not use curly brackets) and special cases as do many other programming languages.

Functional: Python can be used to create a wide range of programs, making it a popular choice in the real world. You can use it to build games, web browsers, and word processors. Whatever you are interested in building, Python can most likely help you in the process.

What coding concepts should I know?

Before introducing Python to your students, it is a good idea to become familiar with the main coding concepts found in Python.

• Variables: These containers store values. Variables can be changed throughout the program. The value in one variable can be copied and stored in another.

• Data: In Python, data can include numbers, strings (pieces of text), or Booleans (True or False).

• Input and Output: Input and output make up the flow of a program. Input refers to data flowing into the computer such as typed text, files, or mouse clicks. Output refers to data coming out of the computer such as visual, auditory, or tactile information.

• Boolean Operators: ‘and’ is a command that will be true if both of the operands (x and y) are true. ‘or’ is true if either of the operands is true (x or y).

• Class: Classes are essentially a template to create your objects. In a class, we will define the object’s properties and methods.

• Conditionals: Conditionals are the decision-makers in the program. You can add code that will run only in certain situations. A conditional statement returns only True or False.

• Loops: Loops are a great way to write repeating code with efficiency. The ‘for’ loop is a simple loop used to iterate or repeat, over a sequence. A ‘while’ loop continues as long as its condition is met.

• List: A list is a structure in Python that keep items in an ordered sequence of items. It is one of the most used data types in Python and is very flexible or mutable, meaning it can easily be changed.

• String: A string is a sequence of characters surrounded by quotation marks.

• Function: A function is a piece of code that performs a specific task. When a function is “called,” Python retrieves the code for that function and then runs it. After the function is finished, the program runs the next command after that line of code.

• Libraries: In Python, libraries contain codes that were written in previous programs. You can re-use this code in your program for faster development. Python comes with a Standard Library but you can import modules, or sections of a library, to your code to make it more powerful (not covered in Banana Tales).

To better understand the concepts above and learn the ins and outs of Python, we recommended playing Banana Tales with your class.

I want to teach kids Python. Where can I start?

You can start by signing up for a CodeMonkey teacher trial and playing the first 21 challenges of Banana Tales. If you would like to continue learning this versatile language, you can purchase Banana Tales for your class. In addition, you can check out this resource, which offers some Python learning books.