BBP Activity 10: Python Loops Exercises

:video_game: Activity Time!

:alarm_clock: Time: 45-60 minutes
:dart: What you'll create: Three amazing loop-powered programs including animated turtle patterns and a number rounding tool!

Activity Instruction:

In this activity, you'll master the power of loops in Python! You'll create mesmerizing patterns with Turtle Graphics and build smart programs that process lists automatically. Get ready to make your computer do the repetitive work for you!

Before You Start:

:white_check_mark: Make sure you're logged into EduBlocks
:white_check_mark: Have your lesson notes ready for reference
:white_check_mark: Remember: loops help us repeat code without typing it over and over!
:white_check_mark: Save your work every 5-10 minutes

Setup Instructions

1. Go to EduBlocks page and login with your Google account: https://app.edublocks.org/login

2. Every time you want to start a new project:

   • Click on the "Editor" icon
   • To resume your project, click on the "Projects" icon

Setup Steps:

1. Select the Python 3 mode
2. Give the project a filename depending on the exercise name:
   • Exercise (Loops) 1
   • Exercise (Loops) 2
   • Exercise (Loops) 3
3. Click on the "Start Coding" button
4. Click "Save" at the top-right immediately

:bulb: :bulb: Pro Tip: Create all three projects at the beginning and switch between them using the Projects menu. This saves time later!

Important Notes:

• Save your work every 5 minutes (seriously, do it!)
• Keep all three project tabs open - you'll need the share links for submission
• If a pattern doesn't look right, check your loop numbers first!

Steps to Complete Your Loops Exercises

One. Exercise (Loops) 1 - Turtle Pattern Drawing :star2:

Time: 15-20 minutes

Let's create a hypnotic spinning pattern using the power of nested loops!

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Drag the import block from the Turtle category
2. Add a "define turtle" block and name it t
3. Set the speed to 10 (fast but visible)
4. Position your turtle:
   • Drag a "pen up" block
   • Add a "go to x: y:" block and set x to -100 and y to 50
   • Drag a "pen down" block
5. Create the main loop structure:
   • Drag a "While True:" block (this creates an infinite loop!)
   • Inside it, drag a "For i in range():" block and set range to 3
6. Inside the For loop, add:
   • A "forward" block set to 90 pixels
   • A "right" block set to 100 degrees
7. After the For loop (but still inside While):
   • Add another "right" block set to 34 degreestip :dart: What's happening? The While loop keeps running forever, and each time it runs, the For loop draws a 3-sided shape. The 34-degree turn at the end rotates everything slightly, creating the spinning effect!

Your Loop Structure Should Look Like:

While True:
    For i in range(3):
        • Move forward 90 pixels
        • Turn right 100 degrees
    • Turn right 34 degrees

2. Exercise (Loops) 2 - List Number Rounding :emoji:

Time: 15-20 minutes

Transform messy decimal numbers into clean whole numbers using loops and lists!

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create your numbers list:

   • Drag a "set variable" block
   • Name it numbers
   • Set it to a list with these values: [17.4, 22.9, 12.34, 21.2, 77.3, 52.45, 8.2]

2. Show the original list:

   • Drag a "print" block
   • Type "Before:"
   • Add another "print" block with the numbers variable

3. Create your rounding loop:

   • Drag a "For i in range():" block
   • Inside the range, use the len() block with numbers as the input
   • This makes the loop run once for each number in your list!

4. Inside the For loop:

   • Drag a "set list item" block
   • Set the list to numbers
   • Set the index to i
   • Set the value to round(numbers[i])

5. Show the transformed list:

   • After the loop, add a "print" block with "After:"
   • Add another "print" block with the numbers variable

:bulb: :bulb: Why use len()? The len() block tells us how many items are in the list. If we have 7 numbers, len(numbers) returns 7, so our loop runs from 0 to 6 - perfect for accessing each list item!

Helpful Block Locations:

• Use the len() block to get list length:

• Use the round() block to round numbers:

Your output should look like this:

3. Exercise (Loops) 3 - Advanced Turtle Spiral Pattern :emoji:

Time: 15-20 minutes

Create a mind-blowing spiral pattern that grows bigger with each loop iteration!

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Set up your turtle:
   • Drag the import block from the Turtle category
   • Add a "define turtle" block and name it t
   • Set the speed to 0 (maximum speed - zoom zoom!)
2. Create the spiral structure:
   • Drag a "While True:" block (infinite loop magic!)
   • Inside it, drag a "For i in range():" block
   • Set the range to 360 (one for each degree in a circle)
3. Inside the For loop, add:
   • A "forward" block with i as the distance (not a fixed number!)
   • A "left" block set to 59 degreestip :emoji: Mind-Blowing Fact: The variable i starts at 0 and increases by 1 each time the loop runs. So the turtle moves forward 0 pixels, then 1 pixel, then 2 pixels... all the way to 359 pixels! This creates the spiral effect!

Your Loop Structure:

While True:
    For i in range(360):
        • Move forward (i) pixels  ← Notice we use the variable i!
        • Turn left 59 degrees

Why 59 degrees? This creates a beautiful golden spiral pattern. Try changing it to 58 or 60 after you finish to see what happens!

Troubleshooting Tips :wrench:

Pattern not appearing?

• Check that your While True loop contains the For loop
• Make sure turtle speed is set (10 for Exercise 1, 0 for Exercise 3)
• Verify your turn angles are correct (100° and 34° for Exercise 1, 59° for Exercise 3)

List rounding not working?

• Ensure you're using i as the index in numbers[i]
• Check that your For loop uses len(numbers) for the range
• Make sure you're setting numbers[i] = round(numbers[i])

Spiral looks weird?

• Verify you're using the variable i in the forward block, not a fixed number
• Check that your range is 360
• Make sure the left turn is 59 degrees

:trophy: Challenge Yourself!

Ready for more? Try these advanced challenges:

1. Rainbow Pattern (Exercise 1):

   • Add color changes inside your loops
   • Try using t.color() with different colors each iteration

2. Smart Rounding (Exercise 2):

   • Create a second list that only rounds numbers greater than 20
   • Use an if statement inside your loop!

3. Double Spiral (Exercise 3):

   • Create two turtles that draw spirals in opposite directions
   • Hint: One turtle turns left, the other turns right

Python Connection :emoji:

What you're learning with blocks translates directly to Python:

• While True: = while True: (infinite loops in Python)
• For i in range(3): = for i in range(3): (counting loops)
• len(numbers) = len(numbers) (getting list length)
• numbers[i] = numbers[i] (accessing list items by index)

Required Elements Checklist :white_check_mark:

Before submitting, make sure each exercise has:

Exercise One:

• :white_check_mark: Turtle import and setup with speed 10
• :white_check_mark: Pen positioning at (-100, 50)
• :white_check_mark: While True loop containing a For loop
• :white_check_mark: Forward 90 and right 100 inside For loop
• :white_check_mark: Right 34 after For loop

Exercise 2:

• :white_check_mark: List with 7 decimal numbers
• :white_check_mark: "Before:" print statement
• :white_check_mark: For loop using len(numbers)
• :white_check_mark: Round function inside loop
• :white_check_mark: "After:" print statement

Exercise 3:

• :white_check_mark: Turtle setup with speed 0
• :white_check_mark: While True loop with For i in range(360)
• :white_check_mark: Forward using variable i
• :white_check_mark: Left turn 59 degrees

Project Submission :emoji:

When you have completed all three "Python Loops Exercises", submit them using the link below:

Submit Your Project Here

Important Submission Steps:

1. Test each program to ensure it runs correctly
2. Save all three projects
3. Get the share link for each project
4. Submit all 3 links in the form

Note: You need to submit 3 project links for this activity - one for each exercise. Don't forget any!