Creative Coding in Python: 30+ Programming Projects in Art, Games, and More

by Sheena Vaidyanathan

Overview

Creative Coding in Python teaches kids the fundamentals of computer programming and demonstrates how to code 30+ fun, creative projects using Python, a free, intuitive, open-source programming language that's one of the top five most popular worldwide.

Computer science educator Sheena Vaidyanathan helps kids understand the fundamental ideas of computer programming and the process of computational thinking using illustrations, flowcharts, and pseudocode, then shows how to apply those essentials to code exciting projects in Python:

• Arcade games and apps: Understand GUI (graphical user interfaces) and create your own arcade games and apps.
• Geometric art: Use turtle graphics to create original masterpieces.
• Interactive fiction: Explore booleans and conditionals to invent “create your own adventure” games.
• Chatbots: Discover variables, strings, integers, and more to design conversational programs.
• Dice games: Reuse code to devise games of chance.
• What’s next? Look at exciting ways to use your powerful new skills and expand your knowledge of coding in Python.

Creative Coding in Python gives kids the tools they need to create their own computer programs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631595813
Publisher:	Quarry Books
Publication date:	12/18/2018
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sheena Vaidyanathan teaches a Python-based computer science class to 11- to 13-year-olds and is the Computer Science Integration Specialist in the Los Altos School District, in Los Altos, California, where she has also designed computer science curricula, conducted professional development for the K–8 STEM program, and taught pre-algebra, digital design, and visual art. Vaidyanathan is also the program director for the computer science professional development programs at Krause Center for Innovation, Foothill College, where she teaches teachers to code in Python, Scratch, and other languages. Over the years, hundreds of students and teachers have learned to code in her classes. She shares her many years of experience teaching coding by writing articles, presenting at conferences, and providing best practices and student work on her personal website, computersforcreativity.com. Prior to teaching, Vaidyanathan worked in Silicon Valley for more than 10 years as a computer scientist and technology entrepreneur. She lives in Los Altos, California.

Editorial Reviews

"Beginners as well as the more adept should find this of interest." - Booklist—Ilene Cooper, Book

"This book discusses practicalities, like how to save your file, while giving kids access to a powerful tool. No matter what their particular interests are, readers will be amazed at what they can do by the end of this book." - BookRiot—BookRiot

 "This book can really guide any beginner who wants to work with Python and learn to create pretty much anything, but even more, creating games as well as art!"—Test Try Results

From the Publisher