Chapter 1 Introduction to Programming

Chapter 1: Introduction to Programming with EduBlocks

Welcome to the exciting world of programming! In this chapter, we’ll explore what programming is and how we can use EduBlocks to create our own fun programs. By the end of this chapter, you’ll have written your very first program and learned how to give instructions to a computer in the right order. Let’s get started!

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1.1 What is Programming?

Programming is like giving instructions to a computer so it knows exactly what to do. Just like a chef follows a recipe to bake a cake, a computer follows programs to complete tasks. These instructions are written in a special language called code.

Why is Programming Important?

Programming helps people:

• Create fun games, like Minecraft or Roblox.
• Build useful apps, like weather trackers or calculators.
• Control robots and smart devices, like drones or lights that turn on with a clap.

Example:

Imagine you want to tell a computer to draw a square. You would write step-by-step instructions, like:

1. Draw a straight line.
2. Turn 90 degrees.
3. Repeat this 4 times.

The computer will follow these steps exactly, just like a robot!

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Note

Activity 1: Think About It

1. Can you name a game or app you use on your phone or tablet?
2. Write down or draw your favorite game or app.
3. Imagine you are the computer. What instructions would you need to follow to make that game or app work?

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1.2 Getting Started with EduBlocks

EduBlocks is a fun tool that helps us learn programming by snapping colorful blocks together, just like building with LEGO. Each block tells the computer to do something.

Parts of EduBlocks

• Workspace: This is where you build your program by snapping blocks together.
• Block Palette: This is where you find all the blocks to build your program. Blocks are grouped into categories like “Print” or “Loops.”
• Run Button: After building your program, click this to see what your program does.

Using EduBlocks

Let’s open EduBlocks and look around. You’ll see the following:

• A blank area in the middle (Workspace).
• A menu on the side with different blocks (Block Palette).
• A button at the top labeled “Run” (Run Button).

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Note

Activity 2: Let’s Explore

1. Open EduBlocks on your computer or tablet.
2. Look for the Workspace, Block Palette, and Run Button.
3. Drag a block from the palette to the workspace. Try moving it around.

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1.3 Creating Your First Program

Let’s make our first program together! This program will tell the computer to say something.

Steps to Create Your First Program

1. Open EduBlocks.
2. Find the “print” block in the Block Palette.
3. Drag the “print” block into the Workspace.
4. Click inside the “print” block and type: "Hello, World!"
5. Click the Run Button to see your message appear on the screen.

What is Happening?

The “print” block tells the computer to display the message inside it. When you run the program, the computer follows this instruction.

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Note

Activity 3: Try It Out

1. Follow the steps above to create your own “Hello, World!” program.
2. Change the message inside the “print” block. What happens when you run it again?
3. Write down your favorite message and show it to a friend!

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1.4 Understanding Sequences

A sequence is a list of steps that must happen in the right order. Computers are very good at following sequences, but they need the instructions to be clear.

Example of a Sequence:

Imagine brushing your teeth. The sequence might look like this:

1. Pick up the toothbrush.
2. Put toothpaste on it.
3. Brush your teeth.
4. Rinse your mouth.

What if you tried rinsing your mouth before brushing? It wouldn’t work!

Why is Sequence Important in Programming?

If a computer gets the steps out of order, it won’t know what to do. For example:

1. Tell the computer to draw a square.
2. Color it blue.
3. Then erase it.

If the erase step happens first, the computer never gets to draw the square!

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Note

Activity 4: Create a Sequence

1. Think about something you do every day, like getting ready for school.
2. Write down or draw the steps in order.
3. Mix up the steps and share them with a classmate. Can they figure out what’s wrong?

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1.5 Building a Sequence in EduBlocks

Now, let’s create a program with multiple steps. This program will print three messages in order.

Steps to Create a Multi-Step Program

1. Open EduBlocks.
2. Drag three “print” blocks into the Workspace.
3. In the first block, type: "Good morning!"
4. In the second block, type: "Time to learn programming."
5. In the third block, type: "Let’s have fun!"
6. Click the Run Button to see the messages appear in order.

What is Happening?

The computer follows the steps one by one. Each “print” block tells the computer to display a message, and the computer does it in the order you’ve arranged the blocks.

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Note

Activity 5: Experiment

1. Try changing the order of the “print” blocks. What happens when you run the program now?
2. Add more “print” blocks to create a longer sequence.

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Discussion Activity: Let’s Talk About It

Let’s reflect on what we’ve learned:

• Why is it important to give clear instructions to a computer?
• Can you think of other activities where the order of steps matters, like cooking or playing a game?
• How did it feel to create your own program? What did you enjoy the most?

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Congratulations!

You’ve completed your first programming chapter. You learned what programming is, explored EduBlocks, and created programs with clear sequences. Keep practicing, and get ready to learn even more cool programming skills in the next chapter!

Vocabulary Review

Term	Definition
Programming	Writing instructions for a computer to follow to complete a task.
Code	The language or instructions used to communicate with a computer.
EduBlocks	A tool that helps create programs by snapping colorful blocks together.
Workspace	The blank area in EduBlocks where you build your program by arranging blocks.
Block Palette	The menu in EduBlocks that contains all the blocks you can use to create your program.
Run Button	A button in EduBlocks that starts your program and shows the result of your code.
Sequence	A list of steps that must happen in a specific order to complete a task.
Print Block	A block in EduBlocks that tells the computer to display a message.