# Content blocks

> Content blocks teach, illustrate, or let students explore. They never add gradebook points by themselves. Insert them from the / menu under Style, Insert, and Upload.

Source: https://www.curacourse.com/help/content-blocks

## At a glance

**Content blocks** teach, illustrate, or let students explore. They never add gradebook points by themselves. Insert them from the `/` menu under **Style**, **Insert**, and **Upload**.

Interactive demos such as **Interactive Graph** and **Python Tutor Embed** are still content: students can play with them, but nothing is scored.

For questions and exercises that *are* worth points, see [Interactive Activity Blocks](https://www.curacourse.com/help/interactive-activity-blocks).

## Prerequisites

- Lesson **Edit** mode. See [What are CuraCourse blocks?](https://www.curacourse.com/help/what-are-curacourse-blocks)

## How to insert

1. Type `/`.
2. Choose from **Style** (text structure), **Insert** (media, math, callouts, interactive demos), or **Upload** (images).
3. Configure the block in place.

## Style

These shape the lesson document. What you type is what students read.

| **Block** | **What it is** |
| --- | --- |
| **Text** | Regular paragraph |
| **Heading 1** | Top-level heading |
| **Heading 2** | Key section heading |
| **Heading 3** | Subsection heading |
| **Bullet List** | Unordered list |
| **Numbered List** | Ordered list |
| **To-do list** | Checklist |
| **Blockquote** | Quoted passage |
| **Code Block** | Syntax-highlighted code for reading. This is **not** the graded **Code Editor**. |

## Insert

Media, structure helpers, and math.

| **Block** | **What it is** |
| --- | --- |
| **Emoji** | Insert an emoji from the picker |
| **Table** | Grid of cells (default 3×3) |
| **Separator** | Horizontal divider |
| **Table of contents** | Auto-generated links to headings on the page |
| **Video embed** | Playable YouTube or Vimeo iframe. Paste a URL. |
| **Embed** | Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, or another iframe. Paste a URL; you can resize height. |
| **Inline equation** | LaTeX math inside a sentence |
| **Block equation** | Centered display math on its own line |
| **Warning Callout** | Alert-style callout for critical information |
| **Hint Callout** | Tip or suggestion |
| **Info Callout** | Supplementary note |

**Video embed** and **Embed** share the same embed block. Use **Video embed** for YouTube/Vimeo; use **Embed** for docs, sheets, slides, and other iframes.

![CuraCourse screenshot: Content blocks](https://www.curacourse.com/help/featurebase/a6da553cb130f823362b.png)

## Upload

| **Block** | **What it is** |
| --- | --- |
| **Image** | Resizable image with an optional caption |

![CuraCourse screenshot: Content blocks](https://www.curacourse.com/help/featurebase/f27fa33e5685b5c8c63f.png)

## Interactive content (still not scored)

These sit under **Insert**. Students can interact with them. They do **not** award points and they do not appear in the gradebook.

### Interactive Graph

A JSXGraph demo students can explore (pan, drag existing objects). Students **cannot** add or delete objects.

- Author the graph visually or with JessieCode.
- Optional caption.
- Do **not** confuse this with **Graphing Question**, which is a scored construction activity.

![CuraCourse screenshot: Content blocks](https://www.curacourse.com/help/featurebase/d09aea28f76c2fa94459.png)

### Python Tutor Embed

A step-through code visualizer (Python Tutor) students can walk through line by line.

- Language, starter code, optional stdin lines, and height.
- **Allow student input** lets learners type into the visualizer.
- Do **not** confuse this with **Code Editor** (runnable, graded sandbox) or **Code Tracing Activity** (predict output and variables for points).

![CuraCourse screenshot: Content blocks](https://www.curacourse.com/help/featurebase/64ad915e989d4fc7efb7.png)

## Common gotchas

- **Code Block** (Style) is read-only highlighted code. **Code Editor** is a scored, runnable sandbox.
- **Video embed** vs **Embed**: two slash entries, same kind of iframe block — pick the one that matches the source.
- **Interactive Graph** is explore-only. **Graphing Question** is the scored graph activity.
- **Python Tutor Embed** is unscored. Use **Code Tracing Activity** or **Code Editor** when you need points.

## Next steps

- [What are CuraCourse blocks?](https://www.curacourse.com/help/what-are-curacourse-blocks)
- [Interactive Activity Blocks](https://www.curacourse.com/help/interactive-activity-blocks)