Codecrafters: Game Design & Coding Adventures With Python & Blockly

Week 1: Introduction to Blockly and Basic Game Design

Introduction (15 minutes): Overview of the course, tools, and objectives.
A brief introduction to game design principles and the importance of storytelling in games.

Blockly Basics (30 minutes): The interactive demonstration of Blockly covers sequences, loops, and basic logic blocks.
Students start a simple project, such as an interactive story or a basic game (e.g., a puzzle or maze).

Wrap-up (15 minutes): Review of the day's concepts.
Q&A and preview of next week's focus on transitioning to Python and enhancing game mechanics.

Week 2: Transitioning to Python for Game Development

Introduction to Python (20 minutes): Overview of Python as a programming language.
Basic syntax, variables, and data types.

From Blockly to Python (25 minutes): Demonstrating how Blockly concepts translate into Python code.
Guided coding activity: Writing a simple Python script with control structures (if statements, loops).

Project Brief (15 minutes): Introduction to a simple game project using Python (e.g., a text-based adventure or quiz game).
Outline project goals and expectations for completion by the end of the course.

Week 3: Game Mechanics and Development with Python
Advanced Python for Games (20 minutes): Introduction to functions, lists, and handling user input in Python.
Brief overview of Pygame as a tool for game development.

Game Development Basics (25 minutes): Starting the game project: setting up a game loop and adding basic mechanics (e.g., movement or interactions).
Hands-on coding session with instructor guidance.

Review and Next Steps (15 minutes): Reviewing progress on the game project.
Preview of finalizing the game project, focusing on adding features and polishing.

Week 4: Finalizing and Presenting the Game Project
Game Development Continuation (20 minutes): Adding final features to the game project (e.g., scores, levels, or challenges).
Tips for debugging and polishing the game.

Presentation Preparation (15 minutes): Prepare a brief presentation on their game: concept, how it was developed, and what was learned.
Guidance on how to effectively showcase their project.

Game Showcase and Wrap-up (25 minutes): Students present their games to the class, sharing their development process and lessons learned.
Course wrap-up: Reviewing key concepts, discussing further learning resources, and encouraging continued practice and exploration in coding and game design.

This condensed syllabus ensures that each session is packed with learning and hands-on activities, making the most of the limited time while inspiring students to explore coding and game design further.