Why Learn to Code?
A friendly first look at what programmers do
Big Idea: Code is how we tell a computer what to do. When you learn to code, you can make your own games, draw with a computer, build apps, and even tell robots how to move!
By the end you will be able to:
- say what "code" means in simple words,
- name cool things that code makes,
- say what a programmer does.
1. What is code?
Code is a list of instructions we give a computer. A computer is a very fast helper, but it cannot think for itself. It only does exactly what we tell it, one step at a time.
It is a little like telling a friend how to make a sandwich: "Take two slices of bread. Put jam on one slice. Put them together." If you skip a step, your friend gets confused. A computer is the same — it needs clear, correct steps.
2. Amazing things that code makes
Code is all around you, even if you cannot see it. Look at all the things it helps make:
| You use it as… | Code helps make… |
|---|---|
| Video games | the characters move and score points |
| Phone apps | maps, messages, and photo filters |
| Robots | they know when to move and stop |
| Cartoons & movies | the moving pictures on the screen |
| Websites | videos play when you click |