Computer Science for Kids

14. The Butterfly Brigade

Standard: 2‐AP‐11: Create clearly named variables that represent different data types and perform operations on their values

Your model of the forest populated by creatures is coming along well. Looking up from your work, you notice movement out of the corner of your eye. Hearing twigs snap and a strange grunting, you turn to the Guide, who is looking in the direction of the noise apprehensively.

“Sounds like the wild boars that wander around this area,” she says. “Let's retreat behind this tree and watch what happens. You don't really want to tangle with them!”

Along with the Guide, you scramble behind a large tree and peep out. A family of wild boars trots into the clearing where the petrified wood is, rooting around the trunks of the crystallized formations, grunting when they don't find the acorns they are searching for. Using their tusks, they plow up the turf for a while, searching for food.

Suddenly, you hear a strange whirring and, looking up, you discover a surprising sight. A flock of butterflies is headed toward the grove of petrified wood.

“Hooray!” cheers the Guide, peering out from behind the tree, “The butterfly brigade is here!”

You watch, astonished, as the butterflies encircle the grove of petrified wood and flutter their wings all together in the direction of the boars. Shocked, you watch the boars meander off, effectively shooed away by the army of butterflies. “How on Earth did that happen?” you ask, not quite believing your ...