gwecode

courses / python / level 1

level 1 · easy

python for
beginners.

From zero to your first real programs. Every new word explained, every example runnable, one idea per lesson.

  • 28 lessons
  • 7 units
  • 3 h 27 m in all
  • £0, for good
start level 1

what’s inside.

For people who have never written a line of code. Nothing is assumed: every new word is explained the moment it appears.

Python Level 1 assumes nothing. In 28 short lessons you go from what code is to writing your own functions, with a guess, a hands-on task and a fix-the-bug challenge in every lesson. It ends with a level check: a tiny quiz game you build yourself.

every lesson goes the same way.

  1. meet it
  2. guess first
  3. your turn
  4. fix it
  5. nailed it

unit 1

Say hello

Make the computer do exactly what you tell it.

4 lessons · 26 min

  1. What code really is5 minFind out what code is and run your very first program.
  2. Your first line6 minMake the computer show any message you like.
  3. Printing more than once7 minShow several lines, blank lines and lots of words at once.
  4. When it goes wrong8 minRead error messages and fix the two you will see most.

unit 2

Boxes with names

Make the computer remember things.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. A variable is a labelled box7 minStore a value in a box and get it back by its name.
  2. Boxes can change8 minSwap what is in a box, copy boxes and join strings.
  3. Good names, bad names7 minChoose names that Python accepts and people understand.
  4. Asking a question8 minAsk the person a question and use their answer.

unit 3

Words and numbers

Tell text and numbers apart and use both.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. Text vs numbers7 minSpot the difference between a string and a number.
  2. Doing maths8 minAdd, take away, multiply and divide like a pocket calculator.
  3. Tricks with text7 minShout, whisper, tidy and count your strings.
  4. Putting values inside text8 minDrop values into sentences and turn typed text into numbers.

unit 4

Make decisions

Make your program choose what to do.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. If this, do that8 minMake your program do something only when it should.
  2. Otherwise…6 minGive your program a plan B for when the answer is no.
  3. More than two choices8 minCheck one thing after another and pick the right path.
  4. And, or, not8 minLink conditions together to ask smarter questions.

unit 5

Repeat yourself

Do the same thing many times without copying.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. Counting with for7 minRepeat lines as many times as you like with a for loop.
  2. Repeating with while8 minKeep a loop going until its condition turns False.
  3. Loops that decide8 minCheck every number in a loop and count the ones that match.
  4. Stopping early7 minJump out of a loop, or skip a turn, when you need to.

unit 6

Lists

Keep many things together and work through them.

4 lessons · 31 min

  1. Making a list6 minKeep lots of values together in one variable.
  2. Reading and changing items9 minPick out, swap, add and remove items by their place in a list.
  3. Looping over a list8 minVisit every item in a list and add them all up.
  4. Searching a list8 minFind the biggest, the smallest, or one thing in a list.

unit 7

Your own commands

Wrap code up so you can use it again.

4 lessons · 30 min

  1. Making a function7 minWrap lines of code under one name and run them whenever you like.
  2. Giving it information7 minHand your function a value so it can do something new each time.
  3. Getting an answer back7 minMake a function hand you a result you can keep and use.
  4. Putting it all together9 minBuild a small program from functions, lists, loops and decisions.
end of level 1 level check: a tiny quiz game Build one small project with everything from this level. Pass it and your face levels up. see the check

next, level 2

intermediate
python.

Build useful programs with dictionaries, files, errors, modules, classes, JSON and tests. Every example runs.

see level 2