Beginner Level Python and Java Game Programming For Kids

The core concepts courses provide a unique challenge tailored to a student’s programming ability. Students will be challenged through multiple mini projects that specialize in fundamental concepts all programming languages share.

Students will then apply all the concepts they learn to developing a project of their own design that they can carry forward to work on beyond the course.

The tools of the Core Concepts courses involve the Processing program using the Java or Python programming language modes.

Core Programming Concepts

• Variables

• Understanding Data Types (Strings, floats, integers, Booleans, etc)

• Methods/Functions

• If statements (else if and else) and Switches

• Conditional, Logical and Relational Operators

• Class creation

• Data structures: Lists, Arrays, and objects

• Repeating code with Loops: For, While, and for each

Understanding Processing

• General Processing Layout

• How to debug or fix errors

• How to read and navigate lines of code

• Loading Images from files

• Extracting Zip files

• Importing Coding Libraries, Fonts, and Sound

• Reading from and Writing to files

• Creating Text and User Interface (UI) Menus in games

• Using Color with RGB values

Critical Thinking and Mathematical Skills

• Break problems down into smaller, understandable pieces

• Pattern Recognition

• Understanding Coding Logic: Pseudocode

• General Problem Solving

• Simplifying Code: Refactoring

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)

• Collision Detection

• Cartesian Grid, 2D Graphs, Vectors

• Transform and Translation, Matrices

• Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, and Remainder

• Absolute value, Exponents, Rounding (Floor and Ceiling), Random

• BEDMAS calculations

• Linear Algebra

• Trigonometry: Pythagorean’s Theorem, Sin Cos Tan

Beginner Goals

Our Beginner and Beginner+ classes feature an introduction to processing, specifically programming in Java and Python.  These are perfectly suited for students comfortable with the computer and new to programming, or for our introductory graduates.

These programs are made from scratch by the students, and the students are only provided the images and sounds created for RP4K (though all students are also encouraged to create their own resources to use in the program if they wish).

Beginner Course Listing

Our Beginner Computer Programming Courses feature:

• Processing Python Serpent Temple

• Processing Java Pizza Bandit

About The Courses

Serpent Temple (Python Processing) features a treasure hunter looking for the ultimate lost treasure.  Drake has to avoid snakes, traps, boulders, and various other hazards while riding alligators to get the ultimate gold. This is a beginner-level course meant as an exploratory introduction to coding at each student's pace.