Variables are an important part of learning how to code! Variables in coding and variables in math are actually quite similar. This video looks at coding variable types, including strings, numbers, and booleans. This fun variables song for kids will answer the question ‘What are variables?’ while encouraging you to dance and sing along at the same time!
Lyrics
Variables
They have a name
And variables
Have values that can change
Variables
A part of coding foundation
Because variables
Store important information!
So, just like this box can hold this ring
A variable is something that can hold another thing
Like a name, or a date, or a high score
Or a place, your favorite food, and so much more!
You might be confused, have no fear
We can try a little example here
Say this bucket is a variable, we’ll give it a name
So whatever is in the bucket we will call bucketThing!
bucketThing is a frog
bucketThing is a bear
bucketThing is a pizza
bucketThing is underwear!
Now variables can have a type, are you listening?
They can have a type, and here’s the main three
The variable types, when you are talking to machines
are strings, numbers, and booleans!
A string is not a number it’s actually made of letters
Like your name or the words “I really like sweaters”
A string is text, you know characters and letters
Just like the sentence “A bird has feathers.”
Here’s a string variable about what day it is
We will name this variable dayOfTheWeek
dayOfTheWeek is Monday
dayOfTheWeek is Tuesday
dayOfTheWeek is Wednesday
dayOfTheWeek is Thursday!
Variables
They have a name
And variables
Have values that can change
Variables
A part of coding foundation
Because variables
Store important information!
So string variables, what are they good for?
When there are words and text to store
What if you have numbers, like numbers and math?
A number variable is up to the task
Numbers are numbers and nothing more
No letters, or pictures, just a number, like a score!
Numbers are numbers and nothing more
No letters, or pictures, just a number, like a score!
Here’s a number variable to remember the score
we will name this variable myPointScore
myPointScore is 2
myPointScore is 4
myPointScore is 8
myPointScore is 1,000,000!
So number variables, what are they good for?
When there are numbers and numbers to store
But there’s a simpler one, it can be one of two things
It’s called boolean variable, it’s not a number or a string
Boolean, there’s a funny name
It just means true or false, no in-betweens!
Boolean, it can only be two things
Either true or false! No in-betweens!
Here’s a boolean variable to check if you’re asleep
we will name this variable areYouAsleep
areYouAsleep is true!
areYouAsleep is false!
areYouAsleep is true!
areYouAsleep is false!
Variables
They have a name
And variables
Have values that can change
Variables
A part of coding foundation
Because variables
Store important information!