8.2 Python Magic

This scheme of work will give learners a basic understanding of the Python programming language. Through a series of six lessons learners will be introduced to the basic Python syntax and look at selection, loops, functions, lists and classes. Learners will be given the building blocks to extend their programming skills by adding to existing programs or extending their knowledge on Codecademy.

To find out more about this topic please download the scheme of work below. This unit can be purchased using the link below or from the store page which includes the teacher’s powerpoint and all resources required in an editable format. Please read the comments below for customer opinions.

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39 thoughts on “8.2 Python Magic”

  2. Dave Osborne

    Hi Nicky
    Have just been looking at links – site is so good!
    Just done a 10 week python course before Christmas at Comberton VC with Sue Sentence
    See that need to do the code academy one… (see you recommending it)

    Have you a copy of the Swf file to eliminate the problem with pupils not being access it on the net at the same time?
    Dave

  3. Nicki Post author

    Thanks Sara. I’d love to hear how you get on. I probably won’t be able to try out on my own students until September so it would be good to hear any feedback that you may have.

  4. Nicki Post author

    Hi Dave

    Thank you for your lovely comments. I have completed the Python course on Codecademy recently, it’s really good. The SWF file is the one labelled ‘Zork’, for some reason my blog has given it the same icon as the other resources (something I’ll have to look into later!)

  5. Dave Osborne

    Thank you Nicki – the virtual pet example is exactly what needed…
    Have right clicked and saved the zork as a target – it then came up as Swf – it is great way of getting pupils to think about how their maze/adventure games will come across to the user…
    SO love your site!! You are amazing for sharing – hopefully get to thank you in person at the Birmingham conference on Friday.

  6. Selina

    Thanks for sharing these excellent time-saving resources. Looking forward to adapting and using them with my students in the new academic year.

  7. Sam

    Just wanted to say thanks so much for your ideas! I feel so alone branching off looking for new inspirational ideas without anyone ‘telling’ me what to do. You’ve helped me out so much. So thanks!

  11. Nicki Post author

    Yes, they’ll be posted up soon, hopefully. I’m aiming to put lots of new resources on here in the next few weeks.

  12. Kelly

    Hi
    there are fantastic, I would like to use them with my students. I just have a couple of questions. I can’t get the Zork game to go back the first screen when you click on the zork1,2,or3 option. Should it do this? Also what is the text adventure template for?
    Sorry If I am being thick they are so great I want to try them!

  14. Nicki Post author

    Hi Kelly, glad you like them. The template is for the students to use to develop their own text adventure game – see the Text Adventure Guidesheet. With the Zork game you should be able to right-click on it and go back until you get to the home screen?

    Nicki 🙂

  15. Val

    Looks really good resources. Ideal for a non_computing person who needs to get to grips with this topic. Thanks

  16. Lorraine

    Hi Nicki

    Thanks you so much for sharing your resources. I am new to coding so this has been a great help to me in feeling more confident in delivering coding.

    Again greatly appreciated.

  18. Marcel Duffy

    Hi Nicki,

    I am a PGCE student in my first placement and have been asked to produce some lessons for basic Python to year 8’s.
    The school I’m in have never taught Python so this is why it was suggested.
    As I haven’t even delivered a lesson yet and dont have much programming experience this was quite daunting. But I’m going to give your 6 lessons a shot and see what happens. It’s not until after the next half term so have plenty of time to fine tune! Again thanks alot, If it wasn’t for people like you – us students would be knackered!!

  19. Nicki Post author

    Hi Marcel

    So pleased you found the resources useful, that’s why I share them! Let me know how it goes as I haven’t taught this scheme of work myself yet! I left my old school in December where I was about to start it, but my new school haven’t installed Python yet! Hopefully will be starting it soon-ish!

    Nicki

  20. Liam

    This is a fantastic resource, thank you.

    Have you mapped this to any assessment criteria, such as the old NC levels or similar?

  21. Nicki Post author

    Hi, thanks. I’ve started mapping it to the new CaS Progression Pathway levels. Just in the process of updating the scheme of work overview to reflect these so will share on here when complete.

  22. Moya

    Nicki – thank you for sharing these amazing resources – being a non-specialist I am spending hours getting my skills up to speed and developing some interesting schemes of work for the girls I teach. Your site is inspirational and has also taught me so much. Thank you.

  24. grace

    These resources are great! Thankyou so much. Do you know will this work on a python interpreter?

  26. jane

    hi tried entering the code for the encryption but it doesn’t like the
    else:

    it says invalid syntax

    any ideas please
    thanks

  27. Linda Owens

    I can relate to Sam as I am now the only ICT teacher in school. Very daunting and over whelming at times as I am still and NQT. Your resources have been a God send. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

  28. Nicki Post author

    @Jane No too sure, it’s tried and tested on my computer running Python 3 if that helps? Make sure you’re not mixing up tabs and spaces, Python is very fussy about that! Apart from those I can’t think of any reason why it isn’t working!

  29. Liam

    Hi,

    What video were you planning on showing during Lesson 1 to introduce Python? I’ve been trawling through YouTube but can’t seem to find anything suitable.

    Thanks
    Liam

  31. Veena Pillai

    Hi Nicki,

    Thank you so much for sharing, this is brilliant as I am starting a coding club next term for KS3 students who are complete novices to programming. Very useful stuff!

    Thanks,
    Veena

  32. Lee Willis

    Hi Nicki, really enjoying using this SoW as an introduction to programming, was wondering if there where any levels along the new CaS progression pathways as we will be assessing this soon?

    Thanks for making these excellent resources public, it’s greatly appreciated.

  33. Nicki Post author

    Hi Lee, yes I’ve added these in, thanks for your message, I hadn’t realised I’d not put the updated SoW on here.

    Thanks

    Nicki

  35. Peter S

    Hi Nikki,
    I am so grateful to you for your kindness and thoughtfulness in taking the time and trouble to publish all your excellent work. I am quite blown away… I trust life goes well for you and that you may continue to bless so many!

  36. LF

    Hi Nicki,

    Great resource, thanks for sharing! One question, could you explain how the reverse word function works? I always get lost when seemingly random (to me anyway!) variables appear in the code. In this instance the sudden appearance of “c”. How does this cause the loop to reverse the word? I need to be able to explain this to my students! Similarly the appearance of “l” in the Caesar Cipher. Explanation much appreciated!

    Many thanks

    LF

  37. Nicki Post author

    Hi LF, c stands for character, it loops through each character in the word. i works in a similar way incrementing every time the loop repeats.

    Hope that helps, it’s a bit hard to explain in writing!

  39. hari

    Hi Nicki

    You rock!!! Completely new to the whole computing… this looks like a fab resource and I would love to use it… Pleeease?
    As a complete nube are there any pitfalls I need to watch out for?

    Doing code academy and CAS cert but boss wants Python this 1/2 term.
    thanks so much for sharing

    hari

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