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Python first steps — beginner teaching whiteboard

Learn Python basics on a free public teaching whiteboard: variables, input, and first programs laid out for live tutoring. · by zlu

Topics: Python whiteboards

Python first steps — beginner teaching whiteboard
S1 · Open
S2 · What is Python?
S3 · Your first program
S4 · Variables
S5 · Basic types
S6 · Making decisions
S7 · Check
S8 · Glossary

Welcome to Python

Your first program, your first win

Today's story Imagine you could tell a computer exactly what to do, in plain English, and it would obey instantly. That's Python. Today we write our first line of code and see it come alive.

You should leave able to… • Run a Python program and see output • Understand what a program is • Feel confident to experiment

How to use this board Teach from these frames live. Edit any card after generation. Keep one idea per frame.

A language for humans

Readable, powerful, everywhere

Python is a programming language designed to be easy to read and write.

Reads like English Python uses words like print, if, and for. Example: if age > 18: print('Adult') — you can almost guess what it does.

Used everywhere Websites (Instagram), science (NASA), AI (ChatGPT) — all use Python. It's a great first language and a powerful last one.

You write, it runs You type instructions in a file. Python reads them top to bottom and does what you said. No compiling needed.

Hello, World!

The classic first line

Every programmer starts here. It proves your setup works and you can make the computer speak.

The code print('Hello, World!') — that's it. One line. The computer will show: Hello, World!

What print does print() is a function. It takes what's inside the parentheses and displays it on screen. Text goes in quotes.

text
print('Hello, World!')

Boxes for data

Store now, use later

A variable is a name that holds a value. You can change it anytime.

Assign with = name = 'Alice' stores the text 'Alice' in a variable called name. Later, print(name) shows Alice.

Reassign freely score = 10, then score = score + 5 makes score 15. The old value is replaced.

text
name = 'Alice'
print(name)  # Alice

Numbers and text

The two you'll use most

Python knows the difference between numbers and text (strings).

Integers and floats age = 25 (integer), price = 19.99 (float). You can do math: total = price * 2.

Strings Text in quotes: greeting = 'Hi there'. You can join them: greeting + '!' gives 'Hi there!'.

text
x = 5
y = '5'
print(x + x)  # 10
print(y + y)  # 55

If this, then that

Programs that react

Use if statements to run code only when a condition is true.

The if block if temperature > 30: print('Hot!') — the indented line runs only if it's hot.

Else and elif else runs when if is false. elif checks another condition. Example: if score >= 90: grade='A' elif score >= 80: grade='B' else: grade='C'.

text
age = 20
if age >= 18:
    print('Adult')
else:
    print('Minor')

Exit ticket

Show what you know

Check 1 Write a line of code that prints your name.

Check 2 Create a variable called city and set it to 'Paris'. Then print it.

Check 3 What does this code output? x = 3; y = 4; print(x + y)

Key terms

Words we used today

Program A set of instructions a computer follows.

print() A function that displays text or values on screen.

Variable A named container for a value.

String Text data, written inside quotes.

Integer A whole number, like 5 or -3.

Float A number with a decimal point, like 3.14.

If statement Runs code only when a condition is true.

Indentation Spaces at the start of a line that group code in Python.

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Board contents

Text extracted from this public whiteboard for search and accessibility.

S1 · Open

Welcome to Python

Your first program, your first win

Today's story Imagine you could tell a computer exactly what to do, in plain English, and it would obey instantly. That's Python. Today we write our first line of code and see it come alive.

You should leave able to… • Run a Python program and see output • Understand what a program is • Feel confident to experiment

How to use this board Teach from these frames live. Edit any card after generation. Keep one idea per frame.

S2 · What is Python?

A language for humans

Readable, powerful, everywhere

Python is a programming language designed to be easy to read and write.

Reads like English Python uses words like print, if, and for. Example: if age > 18: print('Adult') — you can almost guess what it does.

Used everywhere Websites (Instagram), science (NASA), AI (ChatGPT) — all use Python. It's a great first language and a powerful last one.

You write, it runs You type instructions in a file. Python reads them top to bottom and does what you said. No compiling needed.

S3 · Your first program

Hello, World!

The classic first line

Every programmer starts here. It proves your setup works and you can make the computer speak.

The code print('Hello, World!') — that's it. One line. The computer will show: Hello, World!

What print does print() is a function. It takes what's inside the parentheses and displays it on screen. Text goes in quotes.

print('Hello, World!')

S4 · Variables

Boxes for data

Store now, use later

A variable is a name that holds a value. You can change it anytime.

Assign with = name = 'Alice' stores the text 'Alice' in a variable called name. Later, print(name) shows Alice.

Reassign freely score = 10, then score = score + 5 makes score 15. The old value is replaced.

name = 'Alice' print(name) # Alice

S5 · Basic types

Numbers and text

The two you'll use most

Python knows the difference between numbers and text (strings).

Integers and floats age = 25 (integer), price = 19.99 (float). You can do math: total = price * 2.

Strings Text in quotes: greeting = 'Hi there'. You can join them: greeting + '!' gives 'Hi there!'.

x = 5 y = '5' print(x + x) # 10 print(y + y) # 55

S6 · Making decisions

If this, then that

Programs that react

Use if statements to run code only when a condition is true.

The if block if temperature > 30: print('Hot!') — the indented line runs only if it's hot.

Else and elif else runs when if is false. elif checks another condition. Example: if score >= 90: grade='A' elif score >= 80: grade='B' else: grade='C'.

age = 20 if age >= 18: print('Adult') else: print('Minor')

S7 · Check

Exit ticket

Show what you know

Check 1 Write a line of code that prints your name.

Check 2 Create a variable called city and set it to 'Paris'. Then print it.

Check 3 What does this code output? x = 3; y = 4; print(x + y)

S8 · Glossary

Key terms

Words we used today

Program A set of instructions a computer follows.

print() A function that displays text or values on screen.

Variable A named container for a value.

String Text data, written inside quotes.

Integer A whole number, like 5 or -3.

Float A number with a decimal point, like 3.14.

If statement Runs code only when a condition is true.

Indentation Spaces at the start of a line that group code in Python.