Variables

Coding Concept

Variables are used as placeholders for pieces of text (strings), numerical values, commands, and even other variables.  A variable inside a piece of code is replaced by a number or text when the code is run. You can think of a variable as a box that contains something (a number or text).  Set and Call

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Command Structure

Here we can see that the command is made up of two parts. The first part sets the variable_name to a value and the second part calls the variable in the code by writing its name variable_name.

   

   variable_name = value

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Syntax and Rules

Use underscores and no spaces when naming a variable.

You can not use just one number as a variable name but can use a combination of letters and numbers.

a variable's value can be a string, number, or another variable.

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Examples

Below are some examples of variables:

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   count = 1

   count = count + 1

   print(count)

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Displays 2 on the screen

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   dogs_name = "Jack"

   print(dogs_name)

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Displays Jack on the screen

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Unplugged Activity

If you wanted to make a box/variable for countries, you could name your box/variable country. You can then pass the box called country to another student who places a piece of paper with the name of a country (America) inside the box. This gives the box/variable country a value of America. The box is then moved to another student who places their country of choice (France) inside the box and removes the previous one (America). The box/variable now has the value (France). Any time you want to see the current country, you can open the box/variable country and have a look.​

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Coding Resources

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• Python Online Dictionary for kids

• Minecraft Dictionary

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