Python Coding Introduction - 2 Hour Workshop

Audience: Beginners with little to no programming experience
Theme: “Talking to your computer - your first Python conversations”

1. Workshop Goals

By the end of this workshop, every student should be able to:

  • Explain what Python is and why it’s popular
  • Create variables to store different types of data
  • Use print() to display output
  • Use input() to get information from the user
  • Use f-strings to format text with variables
  • Write simple if/else decisions
  • Run Python programs from the terminal
  • Create an interactive text adventure
  • Save and share their code using Git

This workshop is about building programs that have a two-way conversation with the user.

2. Success Definition

A student is successful if they can say:

“I can write Python code that asks questions, remembers answers, and makes decisions. I’m not afraid to experiment and debug.”

3. Environment & Prerequisites

Required Software

Before the workshop, students should have:

  • Python 3.10+ installed (see Setup Guide)
  • VS Code installed and configured
  • Git installed and configured
  • GitHub account created
  • Workshop repository forked - or if you already have a fork from a previous workshop, sync your fork to get the latest materials

See the complete Setup Guide for step-by-step installation instructions.

Primary Path

  • Local development using VS Code
  • Python in integrated terminal
  • Git for version control

Fallback Path (If Needed)

  • GitHub Codespaces (browser-based; be mindful of free quota limits)

4. 2-Hour Agenda (Minute-by-Minute)

0:00–0:10 - Welcome & Code Confidence Icebreaker

Low-pressure, creativity-focused

  • Prompt (verbal or written):

    • “If your computer could talk back to you, what’s the first thing you’d want it to say?”

  • Emphasize:
    • Everyone is learning
    • Mistakes are how we learn coding
    • Your program will be unique and that’s perfect

0:10–0:25 - Environment Setup & Git Fork/Clone

Hands-on setup

  • Navigate to workshop repository on GitHub
  • Fork the repository (or sync existing fork)
  • Clone to local machine
  • Open in VS Code
  • Verify Python: python --version (or python3 --version)
  • Run starter: python hello.py

0:25–0:45 - Python & Your First Variables

Foundation concepts

Topics:

  • What is Python and why is it so popular?
  • Python reads like English
  • Variables are labeled boxes for information
  • Data types: strings (text), integers (whole numbers), floats (decimals), booleans (True/False)

Activity:

  • Create variables about yourself:
name = "Alex"
age = 13
favorite_number = 3.14
is_learning_python = True
  • Use print() to display values

0:45–1:05 - print(), input(), and f-strings

Making programs interactive

Topics:

  • print() displays information
  • input() asks the user a question and waits for an answer
  • f-strings let you mix variables and text easily
  • input() always returns a string
  • int() converts strings to numbers

Activity:

  • Build an interactive greeting:
name = input("What is your name? ")
print(f"Hello, {name}! Welcome to Python!")

age = int(input("How old are you? "))
print(f"Wow, {age} is a great age to learn coding!")

1:05–1:15 - Break

  • Encourage movement
  • Optional: coding riddle on screen

1:15–1:25 - Introduction to the Text Adventure Project

Preview and planning

  • Show completed example (run adventure-example.py)
  • Explain the mission: interactive storytelling with input and decisions
  • Walk through starter template
  • Introduce if/else for branching paths
  • Clarify: we build incrementally, simple to complex

1:25–1:45 - Hands-On: Building the Text Adventure

Creative coding time

Progression:

  1. Set up story variables
  2. Ask the player for their character name
  3. Display the story opening with f-strings
  4. Add a choice using if/else
  5. Build the story ending based on the choice
  6. Test by running python adventure.py

Extension for fast finishers:

  • Add multiple choices (elif)
  • Track a score variable
  • Add more story branches
  • Use a while loop for repeated choices
  • Ask for more user inputs throughout the story

1:45–1:55 - Git Commit, Push & Show and Tell

Save and celebrate

  • Add and commit: git add . && git commit -m "Complete text adventure"
  • Push to GitHub: git push
  • Volunteer show-and-tell (2-3 students)
  • Celebrate creativity and problem-solving

1:55–2:00 - Wrap-Up & Teaser

Reflect and connect forward

  • Reflection: “What surprised you about Python?”
  • Preview: “Next workshop, we’ll go deeper with loops, lists, and building bigger programs!”
  • Quick demo of a loop or list concept

5. Printed Student Handouts

Handout 1: Vocabulary (Fill-in-the-Blank)

  • Python, variable, string, integer
  • float, boolean, print(), input()
  • f-string, if, else, condition

Handout 2: Mission Worksheet

  • Warm-up check-in
  • Python basics concepts
  • Variable lab exercises
  • Data types detective
  • print() and input() practice
  • Adventure planning zone
  • Terminal commands reference
  • Reflection prompts

6. Instructor Guardrails

  • Type slowly - narrate what you’re doing
  • Normalize syntax errors: “I make these mistakes daily”
  • Ask “What do you think Python is confused about?” when students are stuck
  • Don’t type for students - guide them to find their own answers
  • Celebrate attempts, not just correct answers
  • Read error messages together - they’re helpful!

7. Bridge to Workshop #6 (Advanced Python Coding)

End with:

“Today you made Python ask questions and make decisions. Next workshop, you’ll make Python repeat actions, remember lists of things, and build even bigger programs!”

Quick demo:

colors = ["red", "blue", "green"]
for color in colors:
    print(f"I like {color}!")

8. Overarching Goals

  • Variables and input as the foundation of interactive programs
  • print() and f-strings as your communication tools
  • if/else as the start of computer decision-making
  • Creativity over perfection
  • Comfort with terminal and Python
  • Building blocks for advanced programming
  • Confidence to experiment and learn from errors