Print the practice sheets
Tracing, debugging and creation sheets that work away from a screen, plus facilitator notes for running this with a group.
Open the print packBack to the Turtle lesson
alphaPlan · Optional annex
Go further: real Python on your computer
The Turtle lesson teaches you to read, predict and trace Python without installing anything. This annex is for when you want to run it yourself: install Python, open a supplied starter file, watch it draw, break it on purpose and fix it.
Start here · first visible success
Run your first Python drawing
Before studying variables or coordinates, make Python draw one blue line. This gives the later ideas something visible to explain.
A laptop or desktop computer is recommended for writing and running Python. On a phone, you can still read, predict, trace code and plan the drawing, but run the program later on a computer.
Python is the language that will give the computer drawing instructions. IDLE is the simple editor included with many standard Python installations; it gives a beginner a visible Open and Run path without requiring command-line knowledge.
Recommended beginner path: Python 3 + IDLE on Windows. This is alphaPlan's primary tested path. The learning goal is the same on macOS and Linux, but IDLE and Turtle/Tk availability varies by installation.
- Install standard Python 3 if it is not already available. On Windows, selecting ‘Add Python to PATH’ lets text-based command tools find Python; IDLE can still be opened from the application menu.
- Download the starter below. Browsers usually save it in Downloads (the folder that holds downloaded files). If you cannot find it, open the browser's downloads list and choose ‘Show in folder’.
- Open IDLE first. Choose File > Open, open Downloads, then select `turtle-first-program.py`. Check that this filename appears in the editor title.
- Choose Run > Run Module (or press F5). A separate Turtle window should draw one blue horizontal line 80 pixels long. That visible line is success.
If opening or running the file does not work
- • Double-click opened and closed a window: open the file from inside IDLE instead, then use Run Module. Do not rely on double-click for this lesson.
- • The wrong file runs: save your work, check the filename in the editor title, and use Run Module again.
- • No Turtle window: use standard desktop Python with Turtle/Tk support. Close an old Turtle window before rerunning; keep `turtle.done()` as the last line.
- • Installation is blocked by a school or workplace administrator: stop trying to change the device. Ask for a prepared device or join a learner on a working computer. You can continue prediction, tracing and debugging on alphaPlan or the print sheet meanwhile; the restriction is not your failure.
Optional terminal check and macOS/Linux orientation
A terminal is an application where you type text commands. `python --version` asks which Python version the command can find. Windows may use `py --version`; macOS/Linux commonly use `python3 --version`. Seeing Python 3 means the command path works.
On macOS or Linux, use the platform's normal Python 3 installation. IDLE may be a separate application/package, and Turtle needs the usual Tk graphical support. alphaPlan has not validated every distribution; if those parts are unavailable, use a prepared device rather than changing system packages without permission.
Programming practice · 45 to 70 min
Predict, run, debug, create
Complete the first blue-line run near the start of this lesson before beginning the changed program.
Return to the first runFound something unclear, outdated or improvable? Suggest an improvement
Return to the lesson
The lesson continues with variables and a worked tracing example. You do not need to finish this annex first.
Back to Turtle graphics and variablesFound something unclear, outdated or improvable? Suggest an improvement