Teacher Resources - Python Level-1 with Virtual Robotics

Teacher Resources
Digital Textbook

Python Level-1 with Virtual Robotics

A hands-on Python coding curriculum for grades 9-12+, taught through programming virtual robots in a simulated environment.

📚 6 Units 🎯 Grades 9-12+ 🤖 Virtual Robot 💻 CodeSpace 🐍 Python
📋

About this Digital Textbook

Python Level-1 with Virtual Robotics is a six-unit digital textbook that teaches Python fundamentals through hands-on programming of a virtual robot in CodeSpace. No physical hardware is required - making it an ideal first coding course for any classroom.

Each unit builds on the last, guiding students from their very first lines of Python all the way to writing reusable functions and tackling open-ended challenges. Teacher resource pages for each mission include learning targets, vocabulary, standards alignment, and a full lesson outline.

1

Unit 1: Getting Started

Students are introduced to CodeSpace and the virtual CodeBot robot. They write and run their first Python programs, learning to use the CodeSpace IDE, control LEDs, and get the robot moving for the first time.

🗺️

Missions in this Unit

📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA K-12 Standards

2-AP-10 2-AP-11 2-AP-13 2-AP-17 2-CS-02

ISTE Standards

1.5c 1.5d
2

Unit 2: Robot Brainpower

Students move from single actions to repeatable, reusable code. They use loops and custom functions to choreograph CodeBot's lights and movement, then add conditionals, Booleans, and lists to build an interactive metronome with selectable tempos.

🗺️

Missions in this Unit

  • ▸ Mission 5: Dance Bot: Students use while and for loops, LED sweeps, and custom functions to choreograph CodeBot's lights and driving into a dance that pops balloons.
  • ▸ Mission 6: Robot Metronome: Students combine loops, conditionals, Booleans, and lists to build an interactive metronome with LED indicators, toggleable sound, and selectable tempos.
  • ▸ Unit 2 Remix & Assessment: Students apply their Mission 5 and 6 skills to design and build an original CodeBot program, then complete a review of Unit 2.
📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA Standards - Grades 9-10

3A-CS-01 3A-CS-03 3A-DA-10 3A-DA-11 3A-DA-12 3A-AP-13 3A-AP-14 3A-AP-15 3A-AP-16 3A-AP-17 3A-AP-18 3A-AP-19 3A-AP-21 3A-AP-22 3A-AP-23

CSTA Standards - Grades 11-12

3B-CS-02 3B-DA-05 3B-DA-06 3B-AP-10 3B-AP-12 3B-AP-14 3B-AP-16 3B-AP-17 3B-AP-20 3B-AP-21 3B-AP-22 3B-AP-23

Certiport IT Specialist: Python Standards

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1

PCEP: Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

Section 1.1 Section 1.2 Section 1.3 Section 1.4 Section 1.5 Section 2.1 Section 2.2 Section 3.1 Section 4.1 Section 4.2
3

Unit 3: Sensing the World

Students expand their programs by reading sensor data from the virtual robot. They learn conditional logic (if/else) to make decisions based on what the robot detects.

🗺️

Missions in this Unit

  • ▸ Mission 7: Line Detective: Students use line sensor readings and thresholds to teach CodeBot to detect a black line on a white surface.
  • ▸ Mission 8: Boundary Patrol: Students use sensor inputs, lists of Booleans, and default parameters to program CodeBot to roam a fenced area.
  • ▸ Mission 9: Line Following: Students use dictionaries and a PID controller to program CodeBot to follow a complex line course.
  • ▸ Unit 3 Remix & Assessment: Students apply their Mission 7-9 skills to design and build an original CodeBot program, then complete a review of Unit 3.
📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA Standards - Grades 9-10

3A-CS-01 3A-CS-03 3A-DA-10 3A-DA-12 3A-AP-13 3A-AP-14 3A-AP-15 3A-AP-16 3A-AP-17 3A-AP-18 3A-AP-19 3A-AP-21 3A-AP-22 3A-AP-23 3A-AP-26

CSTA Standards - Grades 11-12

3B-CS-02 3B-DA-05 3B-DA-06 3B-AP-10 3B-AP-12 3B-AP-14 3B-AP-15 3B-AP-16 3B-AP-17 3B-AP-20 3B-AP-21 3B-AP-22 3B-AP-23

Certiport IT Specialist: Python Standards

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1

PCEP: Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

Section 1.1 Section 1.2 Section 1.3 Section 1.4 Section 1.5 Section 2.1 Section 2.2 Section 3.1 Section 3.2 Section 3.3 Section 4.1 Section 4.2 Section 4.3
4

Unit 4: Repeating with Purpose

Students discover the power of loops to make the robot repeat actions efficiently. They apply while loops and for loops to solve navigation challenges and automate robot behavior.

🗺️

Missions in this Unit

  • ▸ Mission 10: Fido Fetch: Students train the CodeBot to follow commands using a Python dictionary and console inputs.
  • ▸ Mission 11: Airfield Ops: Students use CodeBot's running count of runway dashes with integer division, modulo, and exponents to light position indicators, trigger a sound every 8th dash, and flash proximity LEDs at red markers.
  • ▸ Unit 4 Remix & Assessment: Students apply their Mission 10 and 11 skills to design and build an original CodeBot program, then complete a review of Unit 4.
📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA Standards - Grades 9-10

3A-CS-01 3A-CS-03 3A-DA-09 3A-DA-10 3A-DA-11 3A-DA-12 3A-AP-13 3A-AP-14 3A-AP-15 3A-AP-16 3A-AP-17 3A-AP-18 3A-AP-19 3A-AP-21 3A-AP-22 3A-AP-23 3A-AP-26

CSTA Standards - Grades 11-12

3B-CS-02 3B-DA-05 3B-DA-06 3B-DA-07 3B-AP-10 3B-AP-12 3B-AP-14 3B-AP-15 3B-AP-16 3B-AP-17 3B-AP-20 3B-AP-21 3B-AP-22 3B-AP-23

Certiport IT Specialist: Python Standards

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1

PCEP: Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

Section 1.1 Section 1.2 Section 1.3 Section 1.4 Section 1.5 Section 2.1 Section 2.2 Section 3.2 Section 3.3 Section 4.1 Section 4.3
5

Unit 5: Responding to the World

Students learn to define and call their own functions, breaking larger programs into reusable building blocks. This unit reinforces clean coding habits and problem decomposition.

🗺️

Missions in this Unit

  • ▸ Mission 12: King of the Hill: Students use the accelerometer to read CodeBot's tilt, build a live bar graph to visualize it, then drive up a hill by remote control before programming the 'bot to climb and dodge obstacles on its own.
  • ▸ Mission 13: Going the Distance!: Students use CodeBot's wheel encoders to calculate distance and speed, then write functions to drive an exact distance, rotate a precise angle, hold a steady pace, and drive a curve.
  • ▸ Unit 5 Remix & Assessment: Students apply their Mission 12 and 13 skills to design and build an original CodeBot program, then complete a review of Unit 5.
📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA Standards - Grades 9-10

3A-CS-03 3A-DA-09 3A-DA-10 3A-DA-11 3A-DA-12 3A-AP-13 3A-AP-14 3A-AP-16 3A-AP-17 3A-AP-18 3A-AP-19 3A-AP-21 3A-AP-22 3A-AP-23 3A-AP-26

CSTA Standards - Grades 11-12

3B-CS-02 3B-DA-05 3B-DA-06 3B-DA-07 3B-AP-10 3B-AP-12 3B-AP-14 3B-AP-15 3B-AP-16 3B-AP-17 3B-AP-20 3B-AP-21 3B-AP-22 3B-AP-23

Certiport IT Specialist: Python Standards

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1 6.2

PCEP: Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

Section 1.1 Section 1.2 Section 1.3 Section 1.4 Section 1.5 Section 2.1 Section 2.2 Section 3.1 Section 3.2 Section 3.4 Section 4.1 Section 4.2 Section 4.3
6

Unit 6: Files and Data Security

Students learn to work with text files, reading and writing data that lives outside their program. They build a jukebox that stores songs as notes and beats in a file, then take on the role of a cybersecurity analyst, using file and string operations to search an email server for suspicious messages and block the senders behind them.

🗺️

Missions in this Unit

  • ▸ Mission 14: Music Box: Students build a dictionary of notes and use Python's file operations to read, write, and play songs, turning CodeBot into a jukebox.
  • ▸ Mission 15: Cyber Storm: Students act as cybersecurity analysts, using file and string operations to search emails for suspicious content and build a blocklist to protect a server.
  • ▸ Unit 6 Remix & Assessment: Students apply their Mission 14 and 15 skills to design and build an original CodeBot program, then complete a review of Unit 6.
📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA Standards - Grades 9-10

3A-CS-03 3A-NI-07 3A-NI-08 3A-DA-10 3A-AP-13 3A-AP-14 3A-AP-15 3A-AP-16 3A-AP-17 3A-AP-18 3A-AP-19 3A-AP-21 3A-AP-22 3A-AP-23 3A-AP-26

CSTA Standards - Grades 11-12

3B-CS-02 3B-NI-04 3B-DA-05 3B-AP-10 3B-AP-12 3B-AP-14 3B-AP-15 3B-AP-16 3B-AP-17 3B-AP-18 3B-AP-20 3B-AP-21 3B-AP-22 3B-AP-23

Certiport IT Specialist: Python Standards

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 3.1 4.1 4.2 6.1

PCEP: Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

Section 1.1 Section 1.2 Section 1.3 Section 1.4 Section 1.5 Section 2.1 Section 2.2 Section 3.1 Section 3.2 Section 3.3 Section 3.4 Section 4.1 Section 4.2
🏆

Final Project

Students bring together the skills and concepts from across the Python Level-1 with Virtual Robotics mission pack to design, build, and present an original project of their own. They follow the five steps of the design process to plan, code, peer review, and share their work, then celebrate everything they accomplished during the pack.

📐

Standards Addressed

▾

CSTA Standards - Grades 9-10

3A-AP-19 3A-AP-22 3A-AP-23

CSTA Standards - Grades 11-12

3B-AP-17 3B-AP-20