About This Book
When Nova's team faces an impossible full-court press, every fancy move fails. Crossovers, spins, and complex combinations all result in turnovers. The team can't advance the ball past half-court, and time is running out.
Nova learns that the foundation of all dribbling starts with the simplest move: the pound dribble. Through this basic, powerful move, she discovers that sometimes the simplest things are the most important.
Watch the Story
🏀 What You'll Learn
🏀 Basketball Skill
The Pound Dribble
The foundational move that breaks the press
💻 Coding Concept
Sequences
Creating sequences with simple, repeatable blocks
📚 For Ages
Grades 3-8
Perfect for all skill levels
📋 Curriculum Standards
CSTA Standards:
1B-AP-11, 1B-AP-12, 1B-AP-15, 2-AP-11
Common Core Math:
6.RP.A.1, 6.EE.A.2, MP.2, MP.7
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Understand that coding starts with simple, repeatable blocks
- Practice creating sequences by repeating foundation blocks
- Learn that Block 1 (Pound) can be repeated to create sequences
- Connect basketball fundamentals to coding fundamentals
🎮 Try the Exercise
Practice the pound dribble move in the game! See if you can break the press just like Nova did.
Play the Game
Exercise Complete!
You've unlocked the next section.
🎓 What You Learned
🏀 Basketball Skill: The Pound Dribble
You learned that:
- The simplest move is often the most powerful
- Fundamentals matter more than fancy moves
- Practice builds confidence
- Starting simple helps you build to more complex moves
💻 Coding Concept: Sequences
You learned that:
- Code executes step-by-step, in sequence
- Simple blocks can be repeated to create programs
- Sequences are the foundation of all coding
- Python code follows the same order as block sequences
Example Python code:
def break_press():
start()
pound_dribble()
pound_dribble()
pound_dribble()
advance()
📚 Curriculum Connection
This connects to:
- CSTA: 1B-AP-11 (Decompose problems), 1B-AP-12 (Modify programs)
- Common Core Math: MP.2 (Reason abstractly), MP.7 (Use structure)
- NGSS: ETS1-2 (Generate solutions)
🚀 What's Next?
Great job completing the Foundation Block exercise! You've learned that coding starts with simple, repeatable blocks.
📖 Ready for Book 2: Code to Create Space
Why this book comes next:
Now that you've mastered sequences, you'll learn decision-making through if/then logic—just like reading the defense on the court. Sequences teach you order, but decisions teach you to adapt.
What You'll Learn:
- If/then conditional statements
- Crossover dribble technique
- Decision-making under pressure
- Reading the defense
Continue to Book 2: Code to Create Space →
👩🏫 For Teachers
📚 Teacher Guide
Complete lesson plan with learning objectives, activities, and assessment rubrics.
Teacher Resources
✅ Answer Keys
Answer keys for all exercises and assessment questions.
Teacher Resources
📋 Assessment Rubric
Rubric for evaluating student progress and understanding.
Teacher Resources
🎯 Curriculum Alignment
CSTA, Common Core, and NGSS standards alignment.
Teacher Resources