Unit 0 Overview

This foundational week prepares you for the advanced CSS topics ahead. You will set up your development environment, review core CSS concepts, and explore responsive design principles that form the basis for modern web development. While you may be familiar with some of these topics, this week ensures everyone has a solid foundation and consistent tooling before diving into contemporary CSS features. Complete the activities in the order presented to build your knowledge progressively.

Activities

Complete the following in the specified order by the due dates listed in Canvas or before the end of the unit if no date is listed:

• Environment Setup
  This guide walks you through setting up your development environment with VS Code, Node.js, npm, and the CSS Peek extension, ensuring you are ready for the course.
• CSS Fundamentals Review
  Explore CSS specificity, cascade, and the box model. This resource offers remediation for students to fill gaps in their understanding, while also serving as a refresher for those with prior knowledge of these essential concepts.
• CSS Resets and Normalization
  Learn about CSS resets and normalization strategies, including modern reset approaches and the critical box-sizing reset. This foundational knowledge prepares you for consistent CSS work throughout the course.
• Media Queries and Print Styles
  Learn to create print-friendly stylesheets using the @media rule and @print media type. This resource covers syntax and best practices for styling content specifically for printing.
• Mobile-First Design Principles
  Understand responsive design approaches and mobile-first methodology. This resource explains why designing for mobile devices first creates better experiences and establishes the class standard for all projects.
• CSS Fundamentals Practice
  Complete AI-guided mini assessments covering specificity, box model, cascade, and selectors. Submit a reflection on your learning conversation demonstrating your understanding of these core CSS concepts.