Week 7: Python and the Terminal
Unit: Python and the Terminal
This unit, you will learn the basics of Python programming and how to use the terminal to run your Python scripts.
Why Python? Why the terminal? They are extremely powerful tools. Python is a programming language used widely in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, web development, and more. The terminal is an interface that allows you to control a computer with text commands. Assuming you can be reasonably fast typing (or good with agentic AI), these tools will make you way more effective than coding using Scratch alone.
We start with Python basics on Monday and Tuesday, spend the middle of the week using Python to explore real-world data with a Pokémon dataset, and wrap up Friday with a conceptual introduction to artificial intelligence — the foundation for next week’s hands-on machine learning.
Weekly Schedule
| Day | Date | Topic | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Mon 5/4 | Python and VS Code | Open VS Code and write and run your first Python script. |
| 32 | Tue 5/5 | Number Guessing Game | Build a number guessing game in Python using variables, random numbers, input(), conditionals, and a loop. |
| 33 | Wed 5/6 | Pokémon Data with Pandas | Open a real-world Pokémon dataset, compute basic statistics with pandas, and make your first plots with matplotlib. |
| 34 | Thu 5/7 | Design Your Own Pokémon | Use a Python tool to design a custom Pokémon, compare its stats against the dataset with box plots / scatter plots / histograms, revise, save as CSV, and sketch it on paper. |
| 35 | Fri 5/8 | Intro to AI (BrainPOP) | Complete the BrainPOP AI lesson (Vocab Builder, Movie, Quiz, Connected Texts). Finish early? Explore code.org. Sets up next week’s hands-on machine learning. |