About the Level 4 Commands

The Level 4 commands let the turtle draw in different colors. Children can change the pen color by pressing a number key on the keyboard. They can also fill a shape with color or change the background color of the entire screen.

Remember that you can press * at any time to save a child’s picture.

Pen Colors: 0–9

Press the number keys 0 through 9 to change the color of the turtle’s pen. If you press 1, for example, the turtle will switch from the color pen it was holding to the black pen and be ready to draw with it. The color of the turtle itself changes when you press a number key, so the children can tell what color the turtle will use when it draws.

0 - white	1 - black	2 - red	3 - orange	4 - yellow
5 - green	6 - blue	7 - purple	8 - pink	9 - brown

Paint - P

Pressing P fills the area around the turtle. Children can think of P as standing for Paint. To fill in an area, pick up the turtle’s pen with U and move it into the area. Then put the pen down (with D) and press P. Note that the turtle cannot fill an area when its pen is up.

This command gives you a way to change the background color of the screen. Before any other commands are given, press a number key to change the color of the turtle, then press P.

Ink On - I

Pressing I, the first letter of “ink,” turns on Ink mode. The turtle will now color in all the circles (drawn with C) and squares (drawn with S) the children draw using the current pen color. The pen must be down for the fill to occur. Use the Paint command (see above) to fill in other shapes.

Ink Off - K

Pressing K, the last letter of “ink,” turns off Ink mode. Shapes are not automatically filled with color.

What could possibly go wrong?

You may find children stuck in these situations not knowing what to do:

• I can’t find my turtle! Where is it?
    Either the pen color is the same color as the background, or the turtle is hidden.
    To fix the problem, they can press T to see if that makes the turtle reappear, or type the number for a different color.

• My turtle isn’t drawing. What’s wrong?
    Either the pen color is the same color as the background, or the pen is up.
    To fix the problem, they can press D to see if the turtle will now draw with its pen down, or type the number for a different color.

• I can’t draw circles or squares. What’s wrong?
    The pen is probably in its “up” position and is not able to draw.
    To fix the problem, they can press D to see if the turtle will now draw with its pen down.

• I can’t fill shapes and Paint isn’t working. What’s wrong?
    Probably the pen is up. The turtle can’t fill shapes or the background if its pen is up.
    Also, the pen needs to be up when the turtle enters the area to fill before it puts its pen back down.
    To fix the problem, they can press D to see if the turtle will now draw with its pen down.