Exploring Python Lists

Curriculum Area

NZ Curriculum Level: Level 7 (Year 11-13)
Subject: Technology - Digital Technologies
Key Competencies: Thinking, Using language, symbols, and texts, Managing self

Learning Objectives

• Understand the basic concept and functions of lists in Python.
• Apply list operations such as creating, modifying, accessing, and iterating through lists.
• Develop problem-solving skills through practical exercises and activities.
• Collaborate with peers through group discussions and activities.

Lesson Duration

Total Time: 90 minutes
Class Size: 10 students

Materials Required

• Computers with Python installed.
• Projector and screen.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Handouts with exercises.
• Sticky notes for icebreaker activity.

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Lesson Outline

1. Ice Breaker Activity (10 minutes)

Activity: Favourite Animal Lists

• Objective: To get students comfortable with each other and initiate a context for lists.
• Instructions: Each student writes down their favourite animal on a sticky note and places it on the whiteboard. The class then arranges the sticky notes into a single list, verbally noting how each position might be accessed and altered.

2. Introduction to Python Lists (15 minutes)

Topic: What are Lists in Python?

• Demonstration: Use a projector to show a brief presentation on Python lists, focusing on:
  • Definition: A list in Python is an ordered collection of items.
  • Syntax: How to create a list.
  • Examples: Display a few examples of lists.

Content Overview:

• List creation: my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Accessing elements: my_list[0] (returns the first element)
• Modifying elements: my_list[0] = 10 (changes the first element to 10)

3. Hands-On Coding Activity (20 minutes)

Activity: Creating and Accessing Lists

• Instructions:
  • Each student writes their own Python script to create and print a list of at least 5 items.
  • Help students access and print specific elements from their lists.
  • Modify some elements and print the updated list.

Example Code:

# Creating a list of favourite foods
favourite_foods = ["Pizza", "Sushi", "Burger", "Pasta", "Ice Cream"]

# Accessing and printing elements
print(favourite_foods[0])  # Output: Pizza

# Modifying an element
favourite_foods[1] = "Tacos"
print(favourite_foods)  # Output: ['Pizza', 'Tacos', 'Burger', 'Pasta', 'Ice Cream']

4. Group Activity (15 minutes)

Activity: List Manipulation Challenge

• Instructions:
  • Divide the class into pairs.
  • Each pair is given a set of tasks to perform on a predefined list such as:
    • Adding a new item to the list.
    • Removing an item from the list.
    • Sorting the list.
  • Pairs will share their results and approach with the class.

Tasks Example:

# Predefined list
numbers = [3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9]

# Adding an item
numbers.append(6)

# Removing an item
numbers.remove(1)

# Sorting the list
numbers.sort()

# Print final list
print(numbers)

5. Class Discussion (10 minutes)

Topic: Reflecting on List Operations

• Discussion Points:
  • What tasks did you perform on your lists?
  • What challenges did you face?
  • How can lists be useful in real-world applications?

6. Independent Exercise (15 minutes)

Activity: Real-World Problem Solving with Lists

• Instructions:
  • Provide a handout with a real-world problem that involves lists (e.g., managing a list of students' grades).
  • Students will independently write Python code to solve the problem using list operations taught in the lesson.

7. Review and Q&A (5 minutes)

Activity: Recap and Open Floor

• Instructions:
  • Summarize the key points covered in the lesson.
  • Address any questions or concerns students may have.
  • Provide a brief hint of what will be covered in the next lesson.

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Assessment

Formative: Observation during hands-on activities and group challenges.
Summative: Evaluate the correctness and efficiency of the independent exercise solutions.

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Resources

• Handouts with exercises.
• Python documentation for list operations.

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Teacher's Notes:
Encourage creativity and critical thinking throughout the lesson. Help students see the relevance of list manipulation in everyday tasks and larger projects. Reinforce the concept of lists with multiple examples and provide ample support during coding activities.