Have you ever wondered how race cars go so fast and stay on track? Well, it’s not just about the driver. There are lots of people working behind the scenes, especially those who are really good with computers. They help the cars collect and use data to go even faster!
Now, let’s switch gears and talk about something fun you can do with a computer: drawing with code! Imagine you are an artist, and your pencil can draw different shapes on a screen. Wherever you move your pencil, it leaves a line behind.
To move your pencil, you’ll use something called a “move forward” block. This block tells your pencil to move a certain distance. For example, if you use a “move forward” block with 100 pixels, your pencil will move forward by 100 tiny squares on the screen. These tiny squares are called pixels.
When you press “run,” your pencil will move forward, drawing a line as it goes. It’s like magic!
But what if you want to turn your pencil to draw a different shape? You can use a “turn right” block. This block tells your pencil to turn a certain number of degrees. For example, a 90-degree turn will make your pencil turn to the right, like making a corner in a square. You can also try other angles, like 120 degrees, to create different shapes.
You can change how far your pencil moves or turns by clicking on the arrows next to the numbers for pixels and degrees. This lets you experiment and create all sorts of cool designs!
So, grab your virtual pencil and start drawing. Have fun being an artist with code!
Shape Hunt: Go on a shape hunt around your home or classroom. Look for objects that match the shapes you can draw with your virtual pencil, like squares, triangles, and circles. Once you find them, try to describe how you would draw each shape using the “move forward” and “turn” blocks. For example, how many times would you need to turn to draw a square?
Design Your Own Shape: Use paper and crayons to design a new shape or pattern. Once you have your design, think about how you could recreate it using the coding blocks. Write down the steps you would take, including how far you would move forward and how many degrees you would turn. Share your design and steps with a friend and see if they can follow your instructions to draw the same shape!
Code a Picture: Imagine a simple picture you would like to draw, such as a house or a flower. Break it down into basic shapes. Use the coding blocks to plan how you would draw each part of your picture. Try drawing it on a computer using a simple coding program that allows you to use “move forward” and “turn” blocks. How does your picture look when you run your code?
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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(JR Hildebrand – race car driver)
You wouldn’t even qualify for the race if you don’t have people who are proficient in computer sciences, due to the amount of data the cars collect. It’s essential to have individuals who can write programs that help improve performance.
In these puzzles, you will be an artist using a pencil to draw different shapes. Wherever your artist goes, it will draw a line behind them. To move around the canvas, you’ll use the “move forward” block. Here, the “move forward” block indicates to move forward by 100 pixels. When we hit run, what happens? The artist moves forward a certain amount, which is 100 pixels.
Pixels are essentially very small squares on your computer screen. The other block we have in this puzzle says to turn right by ninety degrees. When we drag that out, it makes our artist turn a specific amount. You can experiment with how far you want the artist to turn. This is a 90-degree turn, and this is a 120-degree turn. Remember, you can change these values by clicking on the arrows next to the numbers for pixels and degrees. Enjoy drawing with your artist!
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This version maintains the original meaning while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
