Python ASCII Art Creation :art:

:video_game: Activity Time!

Time needed: 25-30 minutes

What you'll create: Your very own digital pet zoo using Python! You'll use the print() block to draw adorable animals with keyboard characters - it's like being a digital artist who codes! By the end, you'll have cats, dogs, and maybe even some surprise creatures that come to life on your screen! :emoji::emoji::emoji:

Before You Start:

:white_check_mark: Make sure you're logged into EduBlocks
:white_check_mark: Have a new project ready (we'll show you how!)
:white_check_mark: Get excited to create something awesome!

Setup Your Project:

One. Go to EduBlocks

Visit: https://app.edublocks.org/login

2. Start a New Project

• Click on the "Editor" icon
• Select Python 3 mode
• Name your project: "Draw My Pet"
• Click "Start Coding" then "Save"

:bulb: Important: Save your work every few minutes! Click the save button regularly to keep your awesome art safe!

Steps to Complete Your ASCII Art Activity

One. Create ASCII Art Animals

Let's create ASCII art by printing it out! Here is an example of an ASCII art:

ASCII art is also known as text art.

• [Hint: Create the above ASCII art using the print() command blocks only]
• [Hint: Use comment blocks to label what animal it is]
• [Hint: Once you've done the above two animals, feel free to add other kinds of animals]

Tips:

• You can use the backslash with a double quote character to print out double quotes
• You can leave print() command blocks empty to simulate newlines too

2. Advanced Challenge - Interactive Names

For this advanced challenge we will be using another block which is the input() value block.

Your challenge is to make it so that you can print() the name of the cat and dog as an input.

3. Show Off Your Art!

Once you've created your animals:

• Run your program to see your art appear
• Take a screenshot of your amazing creations
• Share with your classmates!

:trophy: Challenge Yourself!

Level One: Create 3 different animals
Level 2: Make one animal wink or smile
Level 3: Create a whole zoo scene with multiple animals
Level 4: Complete the interactive name challenge above

Tips for Success:

• Start simple - even a smiley face counts as art!
• Use spaces creatively - they help position your characters
• Look at keyboard symbols differently - ( ) can be eyes, ^ can be ears!
• Test often - run your code after each animal to see how it looks
• Have fun - there's no wrong way to make ASCII art!tip ASCII Art Starter Kit:

• Eyes: o O . * @
• Nose: v ^ - ·
• Mouth: - _ ~ =
• Body parts: ( ) [ ] | / \

Remember:

You're learning:

• How to use print() commands in Python
• How to create visual art with code
• How to use comments to organize your code
• The basics of Python programming!

Every programmer started exactly where you are now. Your first ASCII cat might look wonky, but that's perfectly okay! Keep practicing and you'll be creating amazing art in no time! :star2:

Ready to create? Start drawing your digital pets now! :art::emoji:

Project Submission

When your ASCII art masterpiece is complete:

Submit Your Project Here!

:bulb: Submission Checklist:

• :white_check_mark: At least 2 ASCII animals created
• :white_check_mark: Comments labeling each animal
• :white_check_mark: Code runs without errors
• :white_check_mark: (Optional) Interactive name feature working

Note: If you completed both the basic art AND the advanced interactive challenge, submit both versions to show off all your hard work! :star2: