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Stage 02 of 04 · Builder

Python for Builders

Real Python you can ship to GitHub.

Coding

Ages
11 – 17
Duration
12 weeks
Prereq
C3 First Python or Scratch comfort.

What students learn

Real Python. Variables, control flow, data structures (list, dict, set), functions, files, simple OOP. By the end students write a 100-line program that does something real — pulls data, transforms it, writes a result.

Reading and writing real code. Comfort with tracebacks. Ability to install and use libraries. A GitHub presence with a published project.

Module-by-module

  1. Hello, Python

    REPL, syntax, types. Calculator that does one useful thing.

  2. Conditionals & loops

    if/else, for/while. Number guessing game.

  3. Lists & dicts

    Collections, iteration, light comprehensions. Contact-book CLI.

  4. Functions

    Define, call, return, scope. Refactor the contact book.

  5. Files & strings

    Read/write text, parse CSV. Script that processes a real CSV.

  6. Modules & libraries

    import, pip, virtual envs lightly. Use one external library.

  7. Errors & debugging

    Exceptions, tracebacks, pdb. Fix 5 broken programs.

  8. Mini-project 1: text adventure

    Multi-room game with save/load. Playable text adventure.

  9. Working with APIs

    HTTP, JSON, requests library. Script that hits a public API.

  10. Mini-project 2

    Student picks a problem. Working CLI tool.

  11. Polish & share

    README, GitHub, packaging basics. Published on GitHub.

  12. Showcase

    Present + post-mortem.

What they make

A real Python tool on GitHub with a README, used by at least one other person.

Walk away with

Reading and writing real code. Confidence with tracebacks. Library installation reflex. A GitHub presence.

Free resources we recommend

  1. Harvard CS50P

    Best production quality of any free Python course.

    Harvard University; David J. Malan.

    Lecture videos + problem sets

  2. Python for Everybody (py4e)

    The gentlest serious intro. CC-licensed textbook.

    Dr. Charles Severance, University of Michigan.

    Videos + free textbook

  3. freeCodeCamp Python

    Awards a free verifiable certificate at the end.

    freeCodeCamp.org US 501(c)(3).

    Interactive lessons + projects

Honorable mentions

Next step

C10 AI Builders Studio, C11 Engineering with CAD, or an Innovator project.

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