Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world, and its code reads almost like English. Everything Year 6 coders already know from blocks — variables, loops and decisions — is here, just typed as text.
What your child will learn
- Know that print() shows something on the screen
- Store values in variables with = and use them in sums
- Read an if–else decision and a for loop
- Know that indentation shows which lines belong to an if or a loop
Blocks to text
“set score to 5” becomes score = 5. “say score” becomes print(score). “repeat 3” becomes for i in range(3): — and the lines to repeat are indented underneath, just as blocks sit inside a loop.
Small details matter
Text languages are strict. Text needs speech marks: "Hello". One = stores a value, while == asks whether two things are equal. Capital letters count, so Score and score are different variables.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. What does this program show?
- 52
- x + 2
- 7
- 5
Show answer
Answer: 7. x starts at 5 and then becomes 5 + 2 = 7.
2. What does this program show?
- Hello
- "Hello"
- Nothing
Show answer
Answer: Hello. print() shows the text inside the speech marks, without the marks.
3. In Python, what does “score = 10” do?
- Prints the number 10
- Stores 10 in a variable called score
- Asks whether score is 10
- Adds 10 to score
Show answer
Answer: Stores 10 in a variable called score. A single = puts a value into a variable.
Tips for grown-ups
- Try these programs in a free online Python editor and change the numbers.
- Read a program aloud, line by line, saying what each variable holds.
- Break a program on purpose — remove a bracket — and read the error message together.