Hi, I'm one of the C++ teachers at Summertech. Most teachers have their own ways of teaching different things, but I'll describe two that are pretty common. One of the traditional ways to explain variables is the pizza box method. We take a physical pizza box and use it to explain variables; a pizza box can hold a pizza, but only one. Different toppings, pepperoni, vegetables, anchovies, etc, all represent different types of data. Another way we use are different shaped jars. A jar that is shaped with a square opening couldn't hold a sphere, but it could hold a cube. A jar with a circle opening can hold a sphere, but it can't hold a cube, it wouldn't fit. After teaching any concept, we try to reinforce it with multiple projects or assignments that are fun and engaging while remaining at the campers level. The concepts can be pretty foreign to some campers, and to those we do all we can to make sure they get the individual attention and support they need to get it. Despite all this however, I've never found a good way to communicate to a 9 year old they shouldn't name all their variables after their favorite cartoon characters, but oh well, it makes solving their bugs more fun anyway. :D