Python Game Developer Level 1 - Activities

Activities

The time estimates given here are approximate, and are meant to help you establish a reasonable learning timeline with your students.

Depending on the total number of session hours at your site, you may not be able to complete all activities in one semester. If your site has fewer than 21 total session hours (# of sessions × hours per session), we recommended your students end the semester by completing the Guided Project. Students may attend the following semester to complete their Creative Project.

Materials

• Learning Roadmap
• XP Tracker - Python Concepts
• Python guide
• Python coding challenges
• PyGame tutorial

Syllabus

Click an activity below to view the PDF

Starter Activities
Activity name	Est time	Activity Description
online pre-survey https://boldidea.org/pre-survey	5 min	At any point during the first or second session , have students complete the pre-survey at https://boldidea.org/pre-survey . Bold Idea uses this data to ensure we are meeting our overall impact goals.
Semester Intro & Icebreaker	10-20 min	As a group, Introduce yourself to students and briefly describe what you will be doing this semester. Choose an Icebreaker activity to get everyone warmed up and comfortable around each other.
Intro to Python	10-20 min	Students are introduced to their Python IDE and learn how to use the Python shell to evaluate expressions, create a script, and recognize errors.
Expressions, Variables, and Strings	30-45 min	Students follow the tutorials in the Python Guide to learn about Expressions, Variables, and Strings. Students complete coding challenge #1: "Age Predictor" and #2: "Turtle Square"
Booleans and if-statements	30-45 min	Students follow the tutorials in the Pyhton Guide to learn about Boolean (True/False) expressions, and how to change the flow of control with if-statements. Students complete coding challenge #3: "Pets" .
Loops	45-60 min	Students follow the tutorial in the Python Guide to learn about While Loops. Students complete coding challenge #4 "Number guessing game" .
Functions	45-60 min	Students follow the tutorial in the Python Guide to learn about Functions. Students complete the "Stick House Neighborhood" activity and complete at least two challenges from the end of that activity.
Guided Project ( View Online )
Steps 1-6: Bouncing off the walls	60-90 min	Students create an animated "ball" that bounces off the edges of the screen
Skill Boost: Learn about Object-Oriented programming	45-60 min	Students follow the tutorials in the Python Guide to learn about Objects, Attributes, Methods, and Classes.
Step 7 - Refactoring using OO	45-60 min	Students apply what they learned about Classes to refactor their game sprites, making the code easier to manage.
Step 8 - Add the Paddle	30-45 min	Students create another sprite class for the paddle using what their ball sprite as a reference. Students then postion the paddle and change the rect size of both sprites to a preferred size.
Steps 9-10 Controls	30-45 min	Students use keyboard state variables to control the paddle and keep it within the bounds of the screen.
Step 11: Images	30-45 min	Students download images from free-to-use game asset website. Code is then added to replace the colored blocks in the game with images.
Steps 13-14: Ball mechanics	45-60 min	Students update the game to allow the ball to fall through the bottom of the screen, and use collision detection to bounce it off the paddle. Code is then added to re-set the ball in a random direction after it has fallen through.
Step 15: Sound	30-45 min	Students use a free sound generator app to create retro-sounding effects for their game. A "bounce" sound is added for when the ball bounces.
Steps 16-18: Laying bricks	45-60 min	Students create another Sprite class called Brick. They then use a nested counting loop to generate bricks with a specific number of rows and columns.
Steps 19-20: Collosion detection / keeping score	45-60 min	Students use a variable to keep score every time the ball hits a brick. Next they learn how to draw text on the screen to display the variable.
Step 21: Add a game-over screen	45-60 min	Students use a variable to control the state of the game, and wrap their game code in an if-statement to show a game_over screen.
Extra challenges	45-60 min	Students do one or more of the extra challenges: Add theme music Add a start screen Multi-colored bricks Increase difficulty by making the ball bounce at varying angles
Creative Project
Brainstorming, Planning, & Prototyping	1½ - 2 hrs	Students team up to ideate and brainstorm, ideate, & plan a 2D game of their choosing. Students will learn about "MVP" and prototype development.
Iteration 1	1½ - 2 hrs	Students pick out tasks planned from previous session. Students working on larger teams can learn how to use "modules" to organize their code.
Iteration 2	1½ - 2 hrs	Students continue their basic prototype.
Iteration 3	1½ - 2 hrs	Students continue the next iteration of their project, also beginning to implement artwork into their game.
Iteration 4	1½ - 2 hrs	Students continue the next iteration of their project
Iteration 5	1½ - 2 hrs	Students continue the next iteration of their project
Iteration 6 / Demo Day Prep	1½ - 2 hrs	Students finish work on their projects and prepare for Demo Day.
Demo Day	1½ - 2 hrs