Code & Create: Skill Development for Kids and Teens

Course Overview This 6-month course introduces beginners to the world of coding. For students with some prior coding experience, the program expands their knowledge by introducing concepts geared toward real-world application development. Core Topics (one track per student): Students will choose one programming language or development track based on their interest and skill level: • Scratch Programming • Python Programming • Java Programming • JavaScript • HTML/CSS Web Development Once selected, a personalized learning pathway will be created to guide each student in building practical applications. Final projects may be featured on our student marketplace: SWAT Store. Student Profiles and Resources Each student will build their online profile on Nexclap, showcasing their skills and projects. They will also receive free access to video courses and exercises for the entire 6-month duration via Nexclap Courses. Duration & Flexibility • Length: 6 months (24 classes) • Make-up Classes: Flexible scheduling, unlimited sessions as needed Blog Writing & Technical Exploration Students will be encouraged to read about new technologies and industry trends and write blog articles. These blogs will be reviewed with detailed feedback via email and group discussions. Selected blogs may be published on our official blog page and promoted on social media. (Note: Blog writing is not part of class hours but is an encouraged and supported enrichment activity.) Curriculum: 1: Python Basics & Foundations • Introduction to Python and IDEs (like Thonny or Replit) • Syntax, print statements, and user input • Variables and data types (strings, integers, floats, booleans) • Operators and expressions • Conditional statements (if, elif, else) 2: Core Programming Concepts • Loops: for and while loops • Functions: defining and calling functions • Parameters and return values • Lists and list methods • Tuples and sets 3: Intermediate Python & Logic Building • Dictionaries and nested data structures • String manipulation and formatting • Introduction to error handling (try/except) • Working with modules (e.g., random, math) • Basic file handling (read/write text files) 4: Game Development with Turtle or Pygame • Drawing and animation with Turtle • Coordinate systems and game loops • Keyboard and mouse interaction • Simple games like race games, mazes, and drawing apps • Optional: Intro to Pygame for more advanced students 5: Projects & Real-World Applications • Mini-projects: Calculator, Quiz App, To-Do List, Password Generator • Working with APIs (e.g., weather, jokes) • JSON parsing and using data from files • Optional: Intro to Flask for simple web apps (for older/advanced kids) 6: Final Project + Portfolio • Planning and building a complete application (game or tool) • Applying design thinking and user experience concepts • Documenting the project on Nexclap (student portfolio) • Presentation skills: showcasing their app to peers/family • Upload to SWAT Store and profile