Session Lesson Plan

2 - Coding Fundamentals

Developed by Roblox

Explore the coding concepts of functions, loops, and if/then statements with mini-projects that can be added to games like color changing platforms and traps.

10 and up Computer Science Game Design

English 1 hour

ISTE Standards: N/A

Learning Objectives:

Demonstrate the logic of if/then statements by modifying a part’s properties.
Practice troubleshooting by independently fixing issues in scripts as encountered.

Skills and Concepts:

Property - Something that controls how an object looks or behaves, like color or if players can walk through it.
Loop - A set of code that repeats until told otherwise.
Function - A set of instructions can be e re-used in different parts of a script.

Getting Ready

Preparation:

Download and open the Trap Project sample in Roblox Studio to show in the Introduction

Materials:

Handout: Intro to Coding Cheatsheet
Paper and pencil per student

Lesson Overview

5 min	Introduction	Introduce the session.
20 min	Guided Tutorial Working with Properties	Modify the color properties of parts using scripts.
35 min	Guided Tutorial Coding a Trap	Code a trap using functions and if/then statements.
5 min	Wrap Up	Recap the lesson and concepts learned.

Lesson Plan

Introduction 5 min
Grab student attention by showing an example of the trap project. Explain that trap was creating using scripting, which allows for the creation of many gameplay elements. Will create other scripts, like one to change a part's color. Explain today's session will be different mini-projects to develop skills in scripting Important to understand these concepts since adventure game will have more scripts. Point out these projects, like a trap, can be included in the adventure game project they'll start in Session 3.

Introduction

5 min

Grab student attention by showing an example of the trap project.

Explain that trap was creating using scripting, which allows for the creation of many gameplay elements.
Will create other scripts, like one to change a part's color.

Explain today's session will be different mini-projects to develop skills in scripting

Important to understand these concepts since adventure game will have more scripts.
Point out these projects, like a trap, can be included in the adventure game project they'll start in Session 3.

Guided Tutorial - Working with Properties 20 min
Lead students through the following tutorials: Properties and BrickColor Loops and BrickColor Reusing Code with script.Parent Encourage students to troubleshoot independently if they have an error. To help, have them try: Redoing their last few steps Asking a peer for help As students write code, check that students write comments that accurately describe the code. Not Specific: Runs code Improved: Changes color of PracticePart

Guided Tutorial - Working with Properties

20 min

Lead students through the following tutorials:

Encourage students to troubleshoot independently if they have an error. To help, have them try:

Redoing their last few steps
Asking a peer for help

As students write code, check that students write comments that accurately describe the code.

Not Specific: Runs code
Improved: Changes color of PracticePart

Guided Tutorial - Coding a Trap 35 min
Lead students through the following tutorials: Using Functions Using If/Then Statements Traps with if/then Statements When working with if statements, check that students indent code to look like code samples. This helps make the code more readable, which becomes important as scripts grow larger.

Wrap Up 5 min
Recap what students have created and vocabulary: property, loop, and function. Point out in the next session, students will start a new project where they make an adventure game.

Appendix

Troubleshooting Tips
Coding a Trap Remind students to double-check their capitalization or ask a peer to check their work. Even one incorrect letter can cause an error in longer words like `FindFirstChildWhichIsA`.

Classroom Management
Facilitation Tips Try the following below to help students develop troubleshooting skills. Write a partial line of code and ask students to complete it. Purposely make a mistake in your code and ask students to identify the error. This can be easily turned into a game. Emphasise 'Ask 3 Before Me' where students ask three peers before asking the teacher for help. It's important for students to become comfortable independently troubleshooting as they advance to more complex projects. For students wanting a more specific brick color, you can share the RGB Color Calculator. Remember to type in the RGB Normalized decimal value for the color picked. Timing Notes Treat Functions 1 and Using If/Then Statements as quick practice lessons, each one lasting ideally five minutes. This will leave you more time for creating traps.

Classroom Management

Facilitation Tips

Try the following below to help students develop troubleshooting skills.

Write a partial line of code and ask students to complete it.
Purposely make a mistake in your code and ask students to identify the error. This can be easily turned into a game.

Emphasise 'Ask 3 Before Me' where students ask three peers before asking the teacher for help. It's important for students to become comfortable independently troubleshooting as they advance to more complex projects.
For students wanting a more specific brick color, you can share the RGB Color Calculator. Remember to type in the RGB Normalized decimal value for the color picked.

Timing Notes

Treat Functions 1 and Using If/Then Statements as quick practice lessons, each one lasting ideally five minutes. This will leave you more time for creating traps.

Customizing the Lesson
Simplify the Lesson Picking a specific unique color can take some time. Whenever working with RGB colors, write down three numbers on a board as possible options for students. There are example colors in Properties and BrickColor - Using RGB Values. Expand the Lesson If students are done early, encourage them to add more colors to the loop for their color part. Challenge students to create specific brick colors using trial and error testing. If students finished their traps, have them duplicate the Trap part and create an obstacle course with at least five different traps to avoid. The following activities can be included: Functions 2: Instances and Particles - expands on the Functions 1 lesson. Powerups with if/then Statements - variation of the trap lesson.

Customizing the Lesson

Simplify the Lesson

Picking a specific unique color can take some time. Whenever working with RGB colors, write down three numbers on a board as possible options for students. There are example colors in Properties and BrickColor - Using RGB Values.

Expand the Lesson

If students are done early, encourage them to add more colors to the loop for their color part. Challenge students to create specific brick colors using trial and error testing.
If students finished their traps, have them duplicate the Trap part and create an obstacle course with at least five different traps to avoid.
The following activities can be included:

Functions 2: Instances and Particles - expands on the Functions 1 lesson.
Powerups with if/then Statements - variation of the trap lesson.

Misc. Resource
RGB Color Picker - Online calculator used to pick different colors. After picking a color, use the RGB Normalized decimal as your brick color. Hosted by instantreality.org

Previous String Variables Next Properties and BrickColor