If Statements in Python: Making Decisions with Code

If Statements in Python: Making Decisions with Code

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to use if statements in Python to make decisions and control the flow of your code.

Introduce the learning objective and explain why if statements are important in programming.

What do you already know about conditional statements in Python?

What are if statements?

If statements are a programming feature that allow you to execute certain code if a condition is met. They help you make decisions in your code based on specific criteria.

Introduce the concept of if statements and explain how they function in code.

Syntax of if statements

The syntax for if statements in Python is: if condition : (tab) code to execute if condition is true. Remember to include the colon and indent the code beneath the if statement.

Show examples of if statements and explain the syntax in detail.

Using comparison operators

Comparison operators are used in the condition part of if statements to compare two values. Some examples include == for equal to, != for not equal to, > for greater than, and < for less than.

Demonstrate how to use comparison operators in if statements and show examples.

Using logical operators

Logical operators can be used to combine multiple conditions in an if statement. Examples of logical operators in Python include and, or, and not.

Explain how to use logical operators in if statements and provide examples.

Using elif statements

Elif statements are used to add additional conditions to an if statement. They allow you to check for multiple conditions in a single if statement.

Show examples of using elif statements and explain how they work with if statements.

Using else statements

Else statements are used to execute code if none of the conditions in the if or elif statements are true. They are the catch-all for any remaining cases.

Demonstrate how to use else statements and provide examples.

Putting it all together

Now that you understand the basics of if statements in Python, try writing your own code with if statements to make decisions and control the flow of your program.

Encourage students to practice writing their own code with if statements and provide resources for additional practice.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.