{"id":759,"date":"2026-10-05T13:35:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T18:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sts.doit.wisc.edu\/training-materials\/?post_type=activity&p=759"},"modified":"2026-10-05T13:35:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T18:35:27","slug":"intro-to-programming","status":"publish","type":"activity","link":"https:\/\/sts.doit.wisc.edu\/training-materials\/activity\/intro-to-programming\/","title":{"rendered":"Intro to Programming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two activities to try for this topic: the first is a simple temperature-converting program, and the second is a number-guessing game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both activities are done using Python.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may complete these activities in an IDE, text editor, paper and pencil, or whatever medium you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose to use an IDE, we suggest using online-python.com<\/a>, as it is simple and easy to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The elements you will likely be using on online-python.com<\/a> are highlighted here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"online-python.com<\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n

Activity 1: Temperature Converter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Objective<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Create a program that converts a value from Celsius to Fahrenheit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concepts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Variables, data types, operators<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Create an integer variable celsius <\/strong>that holds the value 40<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Create an integer variable fahrenheit <\/strong>that converts the value in celsius <\/strong>(( _ * 1.8 )+32 )<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Print out celsius<\/strong> and fahrenheit<\/strong> to the user<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Syntax To Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • \u2026 = …<\/strong> – create a variable with a value<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • print(<\/strong>…)<\/strong> – print value in parenthesis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Expected Results<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      celsius = 40\n\nfahrenheit = (celsius * 1.8) + 32\n\nprint(celsius)\n\nprint(fahrenheit)<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      Activity 2: Number Guessing Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      Objective<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      Create a program where users guess a randomly generated number<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      Concepts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      Variables, libraries, loops, operators, data types, conditionals<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      Steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Import the “random” library into your program<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Create a variable that holds a random number from 1 to 100<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Create a variable that tracks the number of tries a user can make and set it to 10 tries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Create a loop that continues until the user runs out of tries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Decrease the number of tries a user has by 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      6. Take in the user\u2019s input and store it in a variable<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      7. Compare the input to the random number\n
          \n
        • If the guess is equal to the secret number, print out a statement to the user letting them know they got the answer, and break out of the loop<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Otherwise, if the guess is less than the number, print out a statement to the user letting them know it\u2019s too low<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Otherwise, if the guess is higher than the number, print out a statement to the user letting them know it\u2019s too high<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          Syntax to Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • import <\/strong>… – import a library to use in your program (make sure this is at the top of your program)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • random.randint(<\/strong>low int, high int) – <\/strong>use the random library to generate a random number in the given range<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \u2026 = …<\/strong> – create a variable<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • while <\/strong>\u2026:<\/strong> – loop that runs when the condition is true<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • … -=<\/strong> \u2026 – decrease a variable by a value<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • int(input(\u201c<\/strong>…\u201d)) <\/strong>– prints out a statement to the user and converts their input to an integer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • if <\/strong>\u2026\/elif <\/strong>\u2026\/else:<\/strong> -block that runs if the condition is true<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • print(<\/strong>…)<\/strong> – print value in parenthesis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • break<\/strong> – exit a loop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            Expected Results<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            import random\nnumber = random.randint(1, 100)\n\ntries = 10\n\nwhile tries > 0:\n    tries -= 1\n    guess = int(input("Enter a number: "))\n\n    if guess == number:\n        print("Correct answer!")\n        break\n    elif guess < number:\n        print("Your guess is too low!")\n    else:\n        print("Your guess is too high!")<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
            <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-759","activity","type-activity","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sts.doit.wisc.edu\/training-materials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/activity\/759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sts.doit.wisc.edu\/training-materials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/activity"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sts.doit.wisc.edu\/training-materials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/activity"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sts.doit.wisc.edu\/training-materials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}