Introduction to Coding

HTML

Introduction to Coding
Tutor: John Adewole/www.johnadewole.com

Hello World!

Imagine you have a bunch of building blocks, like LEGO. Each block can do something special, like making noise, changing colours, or even doing math.

Coding is like giving instructions to these special blocks to make them work together and create something cool.

Instead of just stacking the blocks randomly, you tell them step by step how to fit together. When you put these blocks in the right order, they do what you want, and you can make things like games, stories, and even robots!

So, coding is like being a boss of these special blocks and telling them how to play and work together to make your ideas come to life. Just like you tell your toys what to do, you tell these blocks what to do with special instructions, and that’s coding!

Introduction to Coding: HTML

HTML stands for “HyperText Markup Language.” It’s a special kind of language used to create and structure websites on the internet. Think of it as the building blocks that web pages are made of.HTML is made up of codes, like instructions, that tell web browsers (the software you use to access the internet, like Chrome or Firefox) how to display content. These codes define things like headings, paragraphs, images, links, and more.

Click on any topic below to learn more.

Coding languages for you

There are coding languages specially designed for beginners and kids that are fun and easy to learn. Here are a few examples:

  1. Scratch: Scratch is like a digital playground where you can create games, animations, and stories by dragging and snapping colourful blocks together. It’s like building with virtual LEGO!
  2. Blockly: Blockly uses puzzle-like pieces that you connect to create code. It’s like solving a puzzle while making things happen on the computer.
  3. Tynker: Tynker is another cool platform where you can learn to code by making games, interactive stories, and even controlling robots.
  4. Swift Playgrounds: If you have an iPad, Swift Playgrounds teaches you coding using the Swift language. You guide characters through challenges and learn coding concepts step by step.
  5. Code.org: Code.org has lots of fun coding activities that help you learn by solving puzzles and creating simple animations and games.
  6. Python (with Kid-Friendly Tools): Python is a real programming language, but there are kid-friendly versions like “PythonTurtle” that let you draw with code and see the results instantly.
  7. Kodu: If you’re into making video games, Kodu is great. You create your own game worlds and characters using simple language.

These coding languages make it super fun to learn how to code, and you’ll be able to see the cool things you create right away! Just like learning a new game or sport, you can start with these languages and then explore more advanced ones as you get more confident.

What is HTML?

Imagine you’re building a really cool treehouse. You want it to have different parts like walls, windows, and a door, right? Well, think of a website like a digital treehouse. HTML is like the blueprint or plan for building that digital treehouse. Instead of wood and nails, in HTML, we use special codes to create different parts of the website. These codes are like instructions that tell the computer how to show things on the screen. Just like you put together LEGO blocks, you put together these HTML codes to make your website look and work the way you want. For example, you use HTML to say, “Hey computer, this part is a title,” or “This is a picture,” or “Here’s a paragraph of text.” The computer reads your HTML and builds the webpage just like you build your treehouse using your blueprint. So, HTML is like a magical language that helps you create awesome websites, just like how you’d create your dream treehouse with a special plan!

HTML stands for…

HTML stands for “HyperText Markup Language.” It’s a special kind of language used to create and structure websites on the internet. Think of it as the building blocks that web pages are made of.HTML is made up of codes, like instructions, that tell web browsers (the software you use to access the internet, like Chrome or Firefox) how to display content. These codes define things like headings, paragraphs, images, links, and more. When you visit a website, your web browser reads the HTML code and uses it to show you the webpage with all its text, images, and interactive elements. It’s like the behind-the-scenes magic that turns simple text into the colourful, interactive, and information-packed websites you see online.

What can I do with coding?

Coding is like having a magic wand for your computer. With coding, you can create all sorts of cool stuff! Here are a few fun things you can do:

  1. Make Games: You can create your own video games, where you decide how the characters move, what they say, and what happens when you win or lose.
  2. Design Websites: You know how you visit websites to learn or play? You can make your own websites and decide how they look and what they say.
  3. Draw and Animate: You can make drawings come to life! You can create animations where characters move around and do funny things.
  4. Build Robots: You can tell robots what to do by writing code. They can follow your instructions and do all sorts of tasks.
  5. Tell Stories: You can make interactive stories where the reader gets to choose what happens next. It’s like writing your own books that people can play with!
  6. Make Music: You can compose music and make tunes by coding. It’s like having your own virtual orchestra.
  7. Solve Problems: You can use coding to solve puzzles, do math, and figure out tricky challenges.
  8. Control Gadgets: You can make things like lights turn on and off, or even control a mini-car using coding.
  9. Create Art: You can generate cool art pieces by coding patterns and colours.

Benefits of learning Coding

Learning coding is like learning a really cool skill that can help you in lots of ways. Here are some awesome benefits:

  1. Make Your Ideas Real: You know those times when you have a super cool idea? With coding, you can actually make it happen on the computer or even in real life with robots and gadgets.
  2. Be a Problem Solver: Coding helps you become a superhero problem solver. You can use your coding skills to solve puzzles, figure out challenges, and come up with creative solutions.
  3. Have Fun: Coding is like playing a game where you’re the creator. You can make your own games, stories, and art, which is a lot of fun!
  4. Create Cool Stuff: You can impress your friends and family by showing them the awesome things you can make with code, like games, animations, and websites.
  5. Get Ready for the Future: In the future, computers and technology will be even more important. When you know how to code, you’ll be all set to understand and use all the amazing tech that’s coming.
  6. Think Like a Scientist: Coding helps you think like a scientist or a detective. You break down big problems into smaller steps and test different ideas to see what works best.
  7. Be a Wizard with Computers: When you understand coding, you can control computers and make them do things exactly the way you want. It’s like being a wizard with technology!
  8. Get Creative: Coding is like having a magic paintbrush for the digital world. You can create unique things that nobody else has thought of before.
  9. Build a Strong Brain: Learning coding makes your brain super strong because it teaches you to think logically and to be patient when things get tricky.
  10. Have a Cool Job: When you grow up, there are lots of jobs where coding skills are super important. You could become a game designer, a website creator, a robot programmer, and so much more!

Learning coding is like opening a door to a world full of creativity, problem-solving, and endless fun!

Summary

Coding is like having a superpower to make your ideas come true on the computer. It’s like telling the computer what to do by writing special instructions. It might seem a bit like a secret language, but once you start learning, it’s like learning to speak a new and exciting language that your computer can understand!

When you visit a website, your web browser reads the HTML code and uses it to show you the webpage with all its text, images, and interactive elements. It’s like the behind-the-scenes magic that turns simple text into the colourful, interactive, and information-packed websites you see online.

Take note of where you save your first code on your device. This is important so that it is easily accessible for next week’s coding class.

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