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Scratch Jr coding lesson 1 - What is Coding?

Why
If you want to be able to learn to code, you have to understand how to think like a computer.
What
In this lesson we are going to learn how to talk to computers so they can understand us using a fun game.
How
You are going to need a blank piece of paper and a pen or pencil to write on the paper. When you are done with this lesson, you will have learned one of the most important things a beginner can learn about talking to computers.
The Lesson

We use special languages called programming languages to talk to computers. Coding is using programming languages to write instructions for the computer to do something. Coding is a little bit like cooking.

Speaking of cooking, we are going to play a little game called the Robot Sandwich Game.   Robots have computers for brains.  To get a robot to do something you have to provide it with instructions.  We are going to program the robot to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Take the Challenge

For this Challenge, imagine we have a loaf of bread, a plate, a knife, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jelly.  Before we begin,  I want you to write down each step the robot will need to follow to make the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  When you are finished writing this down, I want you to watch the video below to see if your instructions are similar the ones in the video.  Ok don’t start the video just yet. First, write down your instructions in plain words on how to program the robot to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The Solution

Watch the above video.  Now look at the instructions you wrote on the paper.  Did you miss anything?  Do you think the robot will be able to follow your instructions and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

It is okay if you did not get the instructions 100% right.  The important lesson I want you to understand is that you have to provide very detailed instructions to a computer.  If you forget something, the computer will not do what you want it to do.

Review

In this you learned that coding is writing instructions in a programming language to get a computer to do something we want it to do.  The most important thing you must understand is that a computer will do exactly what you tell it to do.  If you forget something, the computer will not do what you want it to do.

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