Coding for Littles

Computer Science Education Week

December 3-7

Coding and Programming is fun for all ages! 😎 They also support the skills needed to prepare students for the future. Here are some coding options for younger students.

Kodable: This Chrome or iPad friendly tool offers several options for younger students. K-2: Create Amazing Mazes, Grades 2-5: Build Your Own Fuzzes, and Grades 3-5: Create Your Own Space Puzzle Game. No sign-in necessary to "play" during Hour of Code (TM). 

Daisy the Dinosaur: This iPad app is easy to use with the drag and drop interface. Make Daisy the Dinosaur dance by solving challenges while learning the basics of objects, sequencing, loops and events.

ScratchJr: This iPad app is geared for students ages 5-7. ScratchJr also comes from the brilliant minds at MIT.  Students use block coding to program their own interactive stories and games. 

Hopscotch: This iPad app teaches students 8 and older how to code and create apps and games for iPhones and iPads.

Tynker: Well, this one works for all ages. 😀 And is Chrome and iPad friendly. 😃

It's one of my favorites and is a must check out. 

More Coding Options!

Computer Science Education Week

December 3-7

Get Girls Coding - Made with Code from Google: This website has a lot of fun options for girls. Use code to create gifs, dances, music mixes, avatars, soundtracks, fashion, and so much more. 

CS First from Google: No Experience Needed! Google offers this free and easy to use Computer Science Curriculum kit. Check out sample activities here. This is a great introduction to computer science using the block programming language Scratch from MIT. And even better it's been tested and approved by SAISD students!
"My students really enjoyed Google CS First." Marie Marshall, Santa Rita Elementary.

Scratch from MIT is a programming language in which students use block coding to create stories, games, and animations. Scratch is free and fun for all ages. 

It's Almost Here!

Computer Science Education Week

December 3-7

“The 'Hour of Code™' is a nationwide initiative by Computer Science Education Week [csedweek.org] and Code.org [code.org] to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming.”

The skills used to learn coding and programming are important to our future learners. Not only is coding and programming a booming job market, but computational thinking is also great for supporting our SAISD Learner Profile: Creating, Critical Thinking, Collaborating, and Communicating.

Your challenge this year is to have your students code for at least an hour during Computer Science Education Week. 

Here are a few resources to help you get started: 

hourofcode.com - Be sure to fill out the Join Us form for a chance to win some of the awesome prizes below:

hourofcode.com also offers:
Tutorials and Activities for all ages.
Local Volunteers who will help run a session or talk coding or programming to inspire students!

code.org
Hour of Code Activities
No Devices? No problem! Check out their unplugged activities.
Celebrate Hour of Code with Certificates!

Computer Science Education Week
December 4th - 10th

Hour of Code Begins Today!

Here are a few activities more activities: 

Anyone can quickly code at Google.com today. Check out this video to how.

Have fun with Hour Of Code at Tynker this week. Students can have coding with Barbie's Pet Vet, Dragon Blast, or Monster High. There are all types of STEM activities that can be used throughout the year. 

Make your own street art. Try out Kano Computing's free Street Artist coding challenge. 

Don't forget to share with us your Hour of Code activity. Tweet it out with #SanAngeloCodes. 

Coding with iPads

Computer Science Education Week
December 4th - 10th

Here are a few coding apps for the iPad that we have tried and liked.  

Scratch Jr. is coding for young children in which they can program their own interactive games and stories. While at the same time learning how to solve problem, design projects, and think creatively. 

Hopscotch is for students who have no coding experience to learn the basics of programming, logical thinking, and problem solving. 

Daisy the Dinosaur is for the youngest of coders. It is easy to use with the drag and drop interface. Students will learn the basics for objects, sequencing, loops and events by solving challenges. 

CargoBot is a puzzle game where students code a robot to move crates.

Tynker uses visual block coding or the Apple's Swift Coding to solve puzzles, control robots, or build games. Check out the Hour of Code: Tynker for even more programming fun.

Lightbot: Code Hour requires users to use programming logic to solve puzzles and challenges.  

Cato's Hike Lite: A Programming and Logic Odyssey

There are plenty more apps out their that are free or available for a small fee. These are just a few that we recommend you try. 

Coding Apps for Hour of Code

Computer Science Education Week
December 4th - 10th

The skills used to learn coding are important to our future learners. Not only is it a booming job market, but is also great for supporting our SAISD Learner Profile: Creator, Critical Thinker, Collaborator, and Communicator. 

Blockly uses visual blocks that users can drag and connect to create codes. Blockly programming is used by many apps to teach coding to all ages. 

Here a few fantastic coding apps and sites to use during Hour of Code next week. 

Blockly Games teaches programming to children who have no experience with computer programming. 

Scratch from MIT is learning to code using visual blocks geared for ages 8-16, but can be used by anyone. It's free to join. Coders are able to create stories, games, and animations. 

ScratchJr from MIT is a free app that teaches younger children (ages 5-7) how to program. With their hands-on activities, children can program their own stories and games. 

Code.org is a wonderful website with curriculum, lessons, and activities for all ages.

Students can learn and practice the basics of coding with robots. 

Have a Dash? Dot? Check out these awesome apps: 

• Blockly - Coding Challenges that teaches fundamental programming concepts
• Wonder - includes 100's of challenges
• Path - Path introduces children to sequences, events, and sensors through its simple draw, drag, and drop interface. Plan, program, and execute an adventure for Dash while learning fundamental concepts of computational thinking. *from WonderWorkshop

  How about OzoBots? Check out these amazing apps and games:

• Ozobot App for BIT - includes a draw program in which students can code with colors.
• OzoGroove App for BIT - Code to create your own choreography for your Ozobot. 
• WebGames
• OzoBlockly - code and control your Ozobot

Want to see if Dash or Ozobot is a fit for your class? Contact EdTech with Howard and Feck and check out our DASH or Ozobots to use in your class for Hour of Code. 

Here's a STEM opportunity for Hour of Code from STEMFUSE

Fill out the form below to receive free Hour of Code Activities. 

https://goo.gl/oQrLqX 

Have fun Coding with Code.org

Computer Science Education Week
December 4th - 10th

Learn to Code with code.org

Code.org's message is simple. They believe that "anybody can learn to code". Their mission is to expose students to computer science just like all students are taught Science, Math, or English. It's free to join and users can log in using their SAISD Google Account. 

Code.org offers courses and tutorials for all grade levels and provide many additional resources such as lesson guides, how-to documents and videos, posters and guest speakers. Students learn to code and program by creating games, apps, and animations. An added benefit is that many of the Science and Math TEKS can be applied and used with many of the skills when learning coding and programming. And even more important it gives students more opportunities to work on their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Allowing students to learn how to work through failures and keep persisting until they find solutions. And all done in a stress free, fun, game-like environment. 

An added bonus this year: Take the Challenge and WIN a chat with a celebrity.

                                                               image from code.org

Hour of Code with Code.org

Website Wednesday

Code. org's message is simple. They believe that "anybody can learn to code". Their mission is to expose students to computer science just like all students are taught Science, Math, or English. It's free to join and users can log in using their SAISD Google Account. 

Code.org offers courses and tutorials for all grade levels and provide many additional resources such as lesson guides, how-to documents and videos, posters and guest speakers. Students learn to code and program by creating games, apps, and animations. An added benefit is that many of the Science and Math TEKS can also be applied and used with many of the skills when learning coding and programming. And even more important it gives students more opportunities to work on their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, learning how to work through failures and keep persisting until they find solutions. And all done in a stress free, fun, game-like environment. 

"Code powers our digital world. Every website, smartphone app, computer programme, calculator, and even microwave relies on code in order to operate. This makes coders the architects and builders of the digital age.
Over the next 10 years it is estimated that there will be 1.4 million jobs in computer sciences and only around 400,000  graduates qualified to do them." *International Business Times - Anthony Cutherbertson.