Introduction
How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk is a great read-aloud to help teach the basic concepts of coding in the classroom. Below you will find suggestions for projects that pair well with the book. If you'd like your own copy of the book, you can purchase it directly from the publisher or from Amazon.
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Pearl and Pascal take their coding adventures to the amusement park in this follow-up picture book from our Girls Who Code program!
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Pearl and her trusty rust-proof robot, Pascal, are enjoying a day out at the amusement park. Spinning teacups, ice cream, and of course: rollercoasters! Through the use of code, Pearl and Pascal can keep track of their ride tokens and calculate when the line is short enough to get a spot on the biggest ride of them all–the Python Coaster.
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Variables, if-then-else sequences, and a hunt for a secret hidden code make this a humorous, code-tastic day at the amusement park!
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A great place to start when introducing basic coding concepts to students is MicroBit University.
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Below we will cover different types of Loops, If/Then/Else Conditionals, and Variables with links to chapters within MicroBit University that hit on these topics.
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If you are new to coding/physical computing, be aware that the projects linked below will always involve both a physical circuit (with a MicroBit) AND a bit of code created on a computer used to control the behavior of that circuit.
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Please note that a lot of the topics from the book are used often in MicroBit University. We are only listing the most basic examples. For more coding examples, refer to the complete MicroBit University guide.
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Forever Loop (almost all of the chapters involve loops, these are some of the most basic)
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While Loop (used in other guides as well)
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If/Then/Else (these are also in most chapters, but these are the most basic)
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Variables (in multiple guides, but here are a few)
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Functions, Parameters, and Event Handlers are not topics covered by the book, but are a great extension of learning and are used regularly in MicroBit University.
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Functions are first used in Chapter 5 - Two Buttons (Guide B).
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Parameters are first used in Chapter 5 - Two Buttons (Guide C).
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Event Handlers are used in Chapter 10 - Buttons A and B.
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