Summer Work · 2026

Pick Your Course

Not sure which one? Email Ms. Hessler at hesslc@danbury.k12.ct.us before you start.

You're viewing: AP CSP (Python)
Summer Work

AP Computer Science Principles

Taught in Python · on CodeHS. Everything below must be done before the first day of class.

Step 1 · Join the Google Classroom (do this first, and early!)
  1. Go to Google Classroom and sign in with your school Google account (not a personal Gmail).
  2. Click the "+" in the top-right corner and choose Join class.
  3. Enter the class code: gusbfpp7
  4. Click Join. You should now see AP CSP on your Classroom dashboard.
Open Google Classroom
Why join early: CodeHS access isn't instant. The roster syncs to CodeHS about once a week over the summer, so there may be a few days' delay after you join. Join early so your access is ready when you want to start.
Still can't log into CodeHS more than a week after joining? Email Ms. Hessler at hesslc@danbury.k12.ct.us and I'll sync you manually.
Step 2 · Log into CodeHS

Go to CodeHS and click Log In (the Log In button, not Sign Up), then choose Log in with Google, using the same school account you used for Classroom.

Do not create a separate username/password CodeHS account, because it won't connect to our class. You should land in the AP Computer Science Principles course. If you don't see it, you're probably not synced yet (see the note above).

Open CodeHS
Step 3 · Complete Unit 1: Introduction to Programming

Do all of Unit 1, in order: every video, quiz, example, and exercise, finishing with the 1.19 quiz. Don't skip ahead.

  • 1.1 Welcome to AP CSP
  • 1.2 Introduction to Programming With Karel
  • 1.3 More Basic Karel
  • 1.4 Karel Can't Turn Right
  • 1.5 Functions in Karel
  • 1.6 Top Down Design and Decomposition
  • 1.7 Commenting Your Code
  • 1.8 Abstraction
  • 1.9 Super Karel
  • 1.10 For Loops
  • 1.11 If Statements
  • 1.12 If/Else Statements
  • 1.13 While Loops in Karel
  • 1.14 Control Structures Example
  • 1.15 Debugging Strategies
  • 1.16 Algorithms
  • 1.17 Ultra Karel
  • 1.18 Karel Challenges
  • 1.19 Introduction to Programming Quiz
Plan for ~20 hours. Spread it across the summer rather than cramming.
This work is supposed to feel hard. You'll get Karel stuck and your code won't run on the first try. That struggle is how programming is learned, and getting stuck does not mean you're bad at this. The later lessons (especially the 1.18 Karel Challenges) are genuinely tough; expect to wrestle with them, read the errors, and try again.
Day 1 Test: Read Carefully

Hands-on coding test, first day of class

On the first day, you'll write Karel programs from scratch, with no notes, no internet, and no help, covering Unit 1's core skills: functions, loops, if/else, and decomposition.

  • Counts as a full assessment grade. This is not a warm-up; it goes in the gradebook as a major grade.
  • No exceptions to taking it on Day 1. Everyone tests the first day: no make-ups, no extensions, no exceptions. Plan accordingly.
  • You can't fake it. Copying or using AI over the summer leaves you unable to code on your own, and the test will show it immediately. Do the work yourself and you'll start the year on solid ground.
You're viewing: AP CSA (Java)
Summer Work

AP Computer Science A

Taught in Java · on CodeHS (Cortado). Everything below must be done before the first day of class.

Step 1 · Join the Google Classroom (do this first, and early!)
  1. Go to Google Classroom and sign in with your school Google account (not a personal Gmail).
  2. Click the "+" in the top-right corner and choose Join class.
  3. Enter the class code: vic4oe6c
  4. Click Join. You should now see AP CSA on your Classroom dashboard.
Open Google Classroom
Why join early: CodeHS access isn't instant. The roster syncs to CodeHS about once a week over the summer, so there may be a few days' delay after you join. Join early so your access is ready when you want to start.
Still can't log into CodeHS more than a week after joining? Email Ms. Hessler at hesslc@danbury.k12.ct.us and I'll sync you manually.
Step 2 · Log into CodeHS

Go to CodeHS and click Log In (the Log In button, not Sign Up), then choose Log in with Google, using the same school account you used for Classroom.

Do not create a separate username/password CodeHS account, because it won't connect to our class. You should land in the AP Computer Science A course. If you don't see it, you're probably not synced yet (see the note above).

Open CodeHS
Step 3 · Complete Unit 1: Using Objects and Methods

Do all of Unit 1, in order: every video, exploration, example, and exercise, finishing with the end-of-unit assessment. Don't skip ahead.

  • 1.1 Algorithms, Programming, & Compilers
  • 1.2 Variables and Data Types
  • 1.3 Expressions and Output
  • 1.4 Assignment Statements and Input
  • 1.5 Casting and Range of Variables
  • 1.6 Compound Assignment Operators
  • 1.7 API and Libraries
  • 1.8 Documentation with Comments
  • 1.9 Method Signatures
  • 1.10 Calling Class Methods
  • 1.11 Math Class
  • 1.12 Objects: Instances of Classes
  • 1.13 Object Creation & Storage
  • 1.14 Calling Instance Methods
  • 1.15 String Manipulation
  • 1.16 Mid-Unit Assessment
  • 1.17 End of Unit Assessment
Plan for ~20–24 hours. Spread it out rather than cramming.
This work is supposed to feel hard. Java is precise, and a missing semicolon or the wrong type will stop your code. Reading the error and figuring out why is how programming is learned, and getting stuck does not mean you're bad at this. The later lessons (objects and String manipulation) are the toughest; expect to wrestle with them, re-run your code, and try again.
Day 1 Test: Read Carefully

Hands-on coding test, first day of class

On the first day, you'll write Java programs from scratch, with no notes, no internet, and no help, covering the skills from Unit 1.

  • Counts as a full assessment grade. This is not a warm-up; it goes in the gradebook as a major grade.
  • No exceptions to taking it on Day 1. Everyone tests the first day: no make-ups, no extensions, no exceptions. Plan accordingly.
  • Do all of Unit 1. The test can draw on anything in the unit; complete every lesson, and don't gamble on which parts will appear.
  • You can't fake it. Copying or using AI over the summer leaves you unable to code on your own, and the test will show it immediately. Do the work yourself and you'll start the year on solid ground.