Curriculum

What Pythonoid teaches

14 topics and 201 exercises, from how code runs to functions and return. The first 3 are free, start to finish — the rest unlock with a one-time PRO purchase. See what PRO unlocks →

The recommended order

Each topic assumes the one before it. Free topics never lock by sequence, so a confident child can jump ahead within them — PRO topics unlock together once purchased.

  1. How Python Runs Your Code, for KidsIn game: How the Assistant Reads Your CodeA program runs one line at a time, in the order it was written, and does nothing you didn't actually tell it to do.Code runs one line at a time, top to bottom · Nothing happens unless it is actually written · A single line never repeats itself automatically · A change is only visible to lines that come after it12 exercises4 lessons
  2. Python print() for KidsIn game: Making the Dragon Speakprint() is how a Python program says something out loud, and it is the first real Python a child writes here.Calling print() with text · Printing several values in one call · The sep argument — what goes between values · The end argument — what happens after the line16 exercises5 lessons
  3. Python Variables for KidsIn game: What the Dragon RemembersA variable is a name Python remembers a value by, so the same value can be used again without writing it out every time.Assigning a value to a name · Reading a variable back with print() · Updating a variable using its own value · Choosing clear variable names18 exercises5 lessons
  4. Python if, elif and else for KidsIn game: The Dragon DecidesAn if statement lets a program do something only in certain situations, instead of doing the same thing every time.Comparison operators: >, <, >=, <=, ==, != · True and False as real values · The if statement · elif for additional casesPRO16 exercises5 lessons
  5. Python for Loops and range() for KidsIn game: The Dragon RepeatsA for loop runs the same instruction several times, so a child writes one line instead of twenty.The for loop · range(n) — counting from zero · Why range(n) never reaches n · Using the loop variable inside the loopPRO15 exercises5 lessons
  6. Python while Loops, break and continue for KidsIn game: The Dragon's VigilA while loop repeats for as long as something stays true, which makes it the right tool when you do not know in advance how many times to go round.The while loop · Conditions that change over time · Why a loop can run forever, and how to spot it · break — leaving a loop immediatelyPRO15 exercises5 lessons
  7. Python Lists, Indexing and Slicing for KidsIn game: The Dragon's InventoryA list holds several values under one name, in order, so a program can work with a whole collection instead of one thing at a time.Creating a list · Indexing from zero · Slicing with [start:end] · append() — adding an itemPRO16 exercises5 lessons
  8. Python input() and Type Conversion for KidsIn game: Talking to the Dragon Tamerinput() is the one command that genuinely pauses a program and waits for the player to type something back.Asking a question with input() · input() always returns text, never a number · Converting text to a number with int() · The TypeError from forgetting to convertPRO15 exercises5 lessons
  9. Python Dictionaries for KidsIn game: The Dragon's Stat SheetA dictionary is a stat sheet — a value looked up by its name, not by its position in a list.Creating a dictionary and looking up a value by key · The difference between key-based and position-based lookup · Updating a key's value · Adding a brand new keyPRO15 exercises5 lessons
  10. Python Functions, Parameters and return for KidsIn game: The Dragon's AbilitiesA function lets you name a piece of code once and run it again as many times as you like.Defining a function with def · Calling a function, and calling it more than once · Parameters that customise what a function does · return hands a value back — it does not display itPRO15 exercises5 lessons
  11. Reading Python Error Messages, for KidsIn game: The Dragon's DiagnosisA Python error message already tells you what went wrong — this topic teaches how to actually read it.Reading a traceback's last line first · Recognising IndexError, KeyError, TypeError, ValueError, ZeroDivisionError by name · Syntax errors vs. runtime errors vs. logic errors · Why a logic error produces no error message at allPRO12 exercises4 lessons
  12. Algorithmic Thinking in Python, for KidsIn game: The Dragon's Battle PlansThe same handful of loop shapes shows up again and again in real programs — this topic gives them names.The max-tracking and min-tracking patterns · The counter pattern, and how it differs from an accumulator · Search-with-a-flag, and finding a value's position · Why binary search needs a sorted list, and roughly how much faster it isPRO12 exercises4 lessons
  13. Choosing Python Data Structures, for KidsIn game: The Dragon's RecordsThe same information can be stored several genuinely different ways — this topic is about choosing which one fits the question you'll actually ask.The same data as two parallel lists, a list of dicts, and a dict of lists · Looping over nested data, including a loop inside a loop · Updating a value that lives one level deep · Sets for removing duplicates and checking membershipPRO12 exercises4 lessons
  14. Writing Clean Python Code, for KidsIn game: The Dragon's CleanupA name never changes what code does — only whether a human reading it later can tell what it's for.Why a variable's name never affects what a program computes · Magic numbers, and the real inconsistency bug they cause · Named constants as the fix — one value, one place it's defined · Spotting exact duplication vs. structural duplicationPRO12 exercises4 lessons

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