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Thonny Window Tour

Run the Thonny Window Tour MicroSim Fullscreen
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About This MicroSim

Thonny is the beginner-friendly IDE this book uses to write MicroPython and send it to the Raspberry Pi Pico. Its window has a handful of areas that you will use every day, and knowing their names makes following lab instructions much easier.

This MicroSim is a drawn model of the Thonny window with seven numbered hotspots. Hover over one to see its name, and click it to read what it does and get a short "Try this" step to do in the real Thonny. The two Files panes matter most later in the course: a program in the top pane lives on your laptop, but a main.py in the bottom pane lives on the Pico and runs by itself at power-up. When you are ready, Quiz me asks questions such as "Where would you type a quick test line?" and you answer by clicking the right area.

This MicroSim supports the chapter MicroPython Basics: Variables and Data Types.

How to Use

  1. Hover over an orange numbered area to see its name.
  2. Click an area to read a two-sentence description and a "Try this" step for the real Thonny.
  3. Check Quiz me to switch to quiz mode. Read the question and click the area that answers it. The correct area is outlined in blue after each answer.
  4. Press Next question for another question. Your score appears beside the button.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

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<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/clocks-and-watches/sims/thonny-window-tour/main.html"
        height="567px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Identify the editor, Shell, Run button, Stop button, interpreter selector and Files panes in Thonny
  • Explain what each part of the Thonny window is used for
  • Distinguish files stored on "This computer" from files stored on the MicroPython device

Grade Level

9-12 (high school)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Thonny installed on the computer (see Desktop Setup)
  • A Raspberry Pi Pico connected with a data USB cable

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 min): Click all seven areas and read each description. Open Thonny on your own computer and find each one.
  2. Guided Practice (5 min): Do three of the "Try this" steps in the real Thonny: type 2 + 3 in the Shell, run a one-line program, and stop a loop.
  3. Assessment (5 min): Turn on Quiz me and answer all seven questions. Aim for 7 out of 7.

Assessment

  • Students answer all seven quiz questions correctly.
  • Students explain the difference between saving to "This computer" and to the MicroPython device.
  • Students can stop a running program from Thonny without unplugging the Pico.

References

  1. Thonny: Python IDE for beginners - official Thonny site and downloads
  2. Getting started with MicroPython on the Raspberry Pi Pico - Raspberry Pi documentation, including Thonny setup
  3. Integrated development environment - Wikipedia article on IDEs