Hey there! Have you ever wondered how games respond when you click, tap, or type? It’s all about something called interactivity. When you interact with a computer or phone, it creates an event, and there’s special code that tells the computer what to do next. For example, if you click your mouse, the computer might play a sound. Cool, right?
Have you heard of the game Flappy Bird? It’s a fun game where you help a bird fly through obstacles. Guess what? You can create your own version of Flappy Bird using something called event handlers. Event handlers are like instructions that tell the computer what to do when something happens, like clicking your mouse.
To make your game, you’ll use drag-and-drop programming. This means you’ll move blocks around on your screen to create commands for the computer. It’s super easy and a great way to start learning how to code. Even university students begin with this method!
Each block you drag represents a piece of code. In your workspace, you’ll see green blocks that are already there for you. These are the event handlers. For example, if you want your bird to flap its wings when you click the mouse, you just attach a “flap” block to the right event handler. Now, every time you click, your bird will flap!
In this activity, you’ll solve puzzles by adding the right blocks to respond to different events. You’ll see arrows that let you change settings, like choosing a sound to play when the bird hits the ground. By the end, you’ll have the chance to create your own game and share it with friends. How awesome is that?
So, get ready to have fun and learn how to code your very own Flappy Bird game. Enjoy the adventure!
Explore your surroundings and identify different events that happen when you interact with devices. For example, what happens when you press a button on a remote control or tap an app on a tablet? Write down your observations and think about what kind of event handlers might be used in these situations.
Using a drag-and-drop programming platform, try to recreate a simple version of Flappy Bird. Focus on using event handlers to make the bird flap when you click the mouse. Experiment with different blocks and see how they affect the game. Share your creation with a classmate and discuss what you learned.
Work in pairs to solve coding puzzles that involve placing the correct blocks to respond to events. Set a timer and see which pair can complete the puzzles the fastest. Discuss the strategies you used and how event handlers played a role in solving the puzzles.
Think of a simple game idea and use drag-and-drop programming to bring it to life. Focus on using event handlers to make the game interactive. Once your game is ready, present it to the class and explain how you used event handlers to create interactivity.
Create a storyboard that outlines the events and event handlers you would use to make a new game. Draw each step and write a brief description of what happens when each event occurs. Share your storyboard with the class and get feedback on your ideas.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi everyone! One of the most exciting aspects of a program is its interactivity. Whenever someone clicks, taps, or types on a computer or phone, it generates an event, and there is code that determines the response to that event. For example, you could have an event handler that says, “when the mouse is clicked, play a sound.”
Let’s try an activity to see how this works. Have you ever heard of the game Flappy Bird? By using event handlers, you can learn how to program your very own custom version of Flappy Bird. The code you write involves dragging and dropping blocks that represent commands for the computer. Drag-and-drop programming is one of the easiest ways to learn, and it’s even how university students start learning to code.
Under the hood, each block corresponds to actual code. If you take a look at the workspace, you’ll see some green blocks that are pre-filled for you. These are event handlers. If you want the bird to flap when you click your mouse, you can do this by attaching the flap block to the appropriate event handler. Now, in your game, whenever you click your mouse, the bird will flap.
In each puzzle of this activity, we will introduce new types of events as green blocks in the workspace, and you can decide which block to add in response to these events. When you see an arrow like this, you can change the settings, such as the sound to play when the bird touches the ground. In the final puzzle, you’ll be able to create your own game and share it with your friends. Have fun!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Code – A set of instructions written in a programming language that a computer can understand and follow. – Example sentence: “We used code to create a simple game that counts how many times you can click the button in 10 seconds.”
Game – A program designed for entertainment, often involving challenges or puzzles that a player can interact with on a computer. – Example sentence: “Our class project was to design a game where a character collects coins while avoiding obstacles.”
Bird – A character or object in a computer game that can be programmed to move or perform actions. – Example sentence: “In our coding lesson, we programmed a bird to fly across the screen when we press the spacebar.”
Click – The action of pressing a button on a computer mouse to select or interact with something on the screen. – Example sentence: “To start the game, you need to click the green flag at the top of the screen.”
Mouse – A device used to move a pointer on the computer screen and interact with items by clicking. – Example sentence: “Use the mouse to drag and drop the blocks into the correct order to solve the puzzle.”
Blocks – Visual pieces used in some programming languages to build code by snapping them together like puzzle pieces. – Example sentence: “We used blocks to create a loop that makes the character jump repeatedly.”
Events – Actions or occurrences that a program can respond to, such as a mouse click or a key press. – Example sentence: “In our game, an event is triggered when the player reaches the finish line, making the character do a victory dance.”
Programming – The process of writing code to create software, games, or applications that a computer can run. – Example sentence: “Programming can be fun because you get to create your own games and see them come to life.”
Fun – Enjoyable and entertaining, often used to describe activities that are both engaging and educational. – Example sentence: “Learning to code is fun because you can make your own animations and share them with friends.”
Learn – To gain knowledge or skills in a subject, such as coding, by studying or practicing. – Example sentence: “We learn new coding skills every week, and soon we’ll be able to make our own apps.”
