GAME BUILDER: TEACHER NOTES

Computer Science Education Week

overview

In 15 exercises, students will learn the basics of game mechanics by building a Platformer game similar to that of Super Mario™. As they meet a new monkey and design a game, students will learn keyboard user-interface and game mechanics, including keyboard and collision events. Watch as they get a taste for the endless possibilities that coding offers!

specifications

learn to code games
No matter how much or little coding experience you and your students have, CodeMonkey is engaging, entertaining & educational

ABOUT GAME BUILDER

THE HOUR-LONG VERSION

15 exercises

In an hour, students will build a game in 15 self-paced exercises

CodeMonkey rat

6th - 8th GRADE

We recommend that students first complete Coding Adventure prior to building their games

REAL CODING

Students will build the game in CoffeeScript, a programming language that is easy and functional

CodeMonkey chicken

game mechanics

Students will take the first step to learning how to create games

how to host an hour of code

codemonkey banana

STEP 1: PREP

Go through as many coding exercises as you can to get familiar with the structure. We also recommend reading CodeMonkey's post on how to host a successful hour of code.

codemonkey banana

STEP 2: PRINT

Print out certificates for your students to take home. Students who have their own email can request a certificate at the end of the hour of code.

codemonkey banana

STEP 3: WRITE

Write www.codemonkey.com/hour-of-code/game-builder on the board so students know where to begin.

codemonkey banana

STEP 4: WATCH

Play the following trailer to get the class excited.

codemonkey banana

STEP 5: DISCUSS

Discuss the following topics:
- Computer Science: the art of blending human ideas and digital tools to create
- Program: a set of instructions for your computer to follow.
- Commands: what you use to build a program

codemonkey banana

STEP 6: START

Instruct students to go to the link and click on ‘Start Playing’ to get started.

codemonkey banana

STEP 7: GO BEYOND!

Continue the fun with the full Game Builder courses.
Read more below:

FAQ

Game Builder uses the programming language of CoffeeScript. CoffeeScript is similar to JavaScript in that it is primarily used for web applications, however it has a much friendlier syntax that resembles the way we write in English.

The game design course starts off with very simple steps in order to gradually teach students how to build their own game. Introduce students to the way a real programming interface looks and works.

Yes, you can print out certificates for your students to take home. Students who have their own email address can request a certificate at the end of the hour of code. If not, you can print certificates out here.

Encourage them to go back and try to get 3 stars in all 30 challenges.  Ask them to help classmates who are having trouble or start a new activity here.

Encourage them to read the instructions carefully and double check their code if something is not working.

Encourage students to start each challenge by pressing “run” and watching what the initial code does. This will help them clarify where the code needs fixing.

A challenging puzzle is challenge 27. Refer to the screenshot for a 3-star solution.

Coding Adventure Solution

After every challenge, students will get a star score based on their solution.

  • One star means you earned all the bananas.
  • Two stars means you earned all the bananas and incorporated learned topics.
  • Three stars signifies that you caught all the bananas, incorporated learned topics, and did so in concisely.

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