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 

Coding with Google

Computer Science Education Week
December 4th - 10th

Google CS First is a free program that introduces students to computer science. The CS First program can be ran like a club and offered after-school, in-school or during the summer. And even better anyone can run it because no computer science skills are necessary. The CS First program has everything you need to run your club including instructional videos, lesson guides, activities, solution sheets and much more. Students learn through instructional videos and create themed- based projects on topics such as sports, fashion, art and many more. 

Google CS First even includes activities for Hour of Code such as creating a Google Logo or animate ocean waters on the high sea. Students learn to code using the free Scratch block coding program. 

No Technology! No Problem!

Computer Science Education Week
December 4th - 10th

No devices! No problem. 😄 

Unplug with CSUnplugged. 

Computer Science Unplugged offers a variety of free non-tech lessons and activities for all ages that teach computer science. No computers needed just time, room, and maybe some cards and crayons. Learn computational thinking through engaging games and activities. 

EXCTING NEWS!

Image from texthelp.com

Register here: www.texthelp.com/freeforteachers 

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