You’ve seen the craze for learning code. But what exactly is coding? Coding is what makes it possible for us to create computer software, apps and websites. Your browser, your OS, the apps on your phone, Facebook, and this website – they’re all made with code.Play fun coding games to learn to code. Learn key programming concepts and computational thinking skills as you play. Listed below are websites that have free curriculum to use to teach coding from K-12.
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What is coding?
Why our kids must learn to code.
K-Grade 3Teach your students the basics of computer programming in as little as 20 minutes a week with an engaging classroom curriculum. Pilot Kodable for free!
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K-Grade 12Launched in 2013, Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science. All curriculum resources and tutorials they author are free to use under a Creative Commons license.
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High School Microsoft acquired Mindrcraft and will release an entirely new version of the game called Minecraft: Education Edition that will have many features inspired by MinecraftEdu. It is expected to be released in Summer 2016.
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Coding for Elementary
Scratch: Lots of elementary school teachers use Scratch to teach rudimentary coding. This tool built at MIT Media Lab allows students to make neat programs, enhancing their coding knowledge as they go. It is Web-based and free.
Made with Code: This free Google product is meant to entice girls into making code.
Cato’s Hike: This is a game that teaches programming by expecting kids to figure out the rules to a new world as they make their way through it. As students play, they must use code to create a path around obstacles Cato faces on his adventure. Lite version is free.
Hopscotch: Another coding tool that many elementary school teachers use to expose students to the beginning of computational thinking and code. The tool allow students to build animations and games using a visual programming language. It works on iOS devices and is free.
Pixel Press Floors: One teacher described this game as a bit like Mario Brothers. Students can draw a blueprint for a video game and the app turns it into code. The game changes, depending on how they lay out their titles, and kids can share their tiles, essentially crowdsourcing ideas and collaboratively building. Then games can be published to the Arcade. This app is iOS compatible and is free (for now).
Made with Code: This free Google product is meant to entice girls into making code.
Cato’s Hike: This is a game that teaches programming by expecting kids to figure out the rules to a new world as they make their way through it. As students play, they must use code to create a path around obstacles Cato faces on his adventure. Lite version is free.
Hopscotch: Another coding tool that many elementary school teachers use to expose students to the beginning of computational thinking and code. The tool allow students to build animations and games using a visual programming language. It works on iOS devices and is free.
Pixel Press Floors: One teacher described this game as a bit like Mario Brothers. Students can draw a blueprint for a video game and the app turns it into code. The game changes, depending on how they lay out their titles, and kids can share their tiles, essentially crowdsourcing ideas and collaboratively building. Then games can be published to the Arcade. This app is iOS compatible and is free (for now).
Additional Resources:
24 Hour of Code Resources - Here are a handful of good resources for computer science and coding. Teachers who are ready to jump into the Hour of Code or looking for inspiration as they design a new curriculum will find lots to choose from on this list.
BBC Learning - What is Code
Why Our Kids Must Learn to Code
Hello Ruby - is the world’s most whimsical way to learn about technology, computing and coding. It provide tools for kids, parents and educators to learn to understand programming in a fun and creative way. Ruby’s story continues online with exercises.They are also working on a series of small apps on computational thinking. (ages 6-9)
Code Academy - an online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 9 different programming languages including Python, Java, PHP, JavaScript (jQuery, AngularJS), and Ruby, as well as markup languages HTML and CSS. The platform also provides courses for learning command line and Git.
Foo Studio - is an award winning game that turns computer programming into play. Kids solve fun coding puzzles
and learn fundamental computer science concepts such as sequencing, looping, conditional statements and more. In Foo Studio kids build their own video games and share them with other kid creators. Most importantly, Foo Studio allows students to apply the coding concepts learned in other parts of the game as all objects in Foo Studio are programmable.
Other Resources - Check out the list of curriculum resources for teaching coding on Code.org’s Beyond Code.org page which provides a great listing of 3rd party resources for educators and direct links to the sponsoring organization.
http://www.shakeuplearning.com/coding-resources/_
Inspiring Articles About Kids Learning to Code
Here are a few more sources about the benefits of learning coding skills to help your kids start programming:
--How and Why to Teach Your Kids to Code by Melanie Pinola via Lifehacker
--5 Reasons to Teach Kids to Code via Kodable
--The Educator's Guide to Teaching HTML from Educator Labs
--Teaching Kids Programming with Khan Academy by Patrick Reagan via Viget
--Upgrade Your Brain: Programming Resources for Coding Newbies by Adam Benzion via The Next Web
--Teach Your Kids (And Yourself) How to Code with These iPad Apps by Derek Walter via Macworld.
BBC Learning - What is Code
Why Our Kids Must Learn to Code
Hello Ruby - is the world’s most whimsical way to learn about technology, computing and coding. It provide tools for kids, parents and educators to learn to understand programming in a fun and creative way. Ruby’s story continues online with exercises.They are also working on a series of small apps on computational thinking. (ages 6-9)
Code Academy - an online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 9 different programming languages including Python, Java, PHP, JavaScript (jQuery, AngularJS), and Ruby, as well as markup languages HTML and CSS. The platform also provides courses for learning command line and Git.
Foo Studio - is an award winning game that turns computer programming into play. Kids solve fun coding puzzles
and learn fundamental computer science concepts such as sequencing, looping, conditional statements and more. In Foo Studio kids build their own video games and share them with other kid creators. Most importantly, Foo Studio allows students to apply the coding concepts learned in other parts of the game as all objects in Foo Studio are programmable.
Other Resources - Check out the list of curriculum resources for teaching coding on Code.org’s Beyond Code.org page which provides a great listing of 3rd party resources for educators and direct links to the sponsoring organization.
http://www.shakeuplearning.com/coding-resources/_
Inspiring Articles About Kids Learning to Code
Here are a few more sources about the benefits of learning coding skills to help your kids start programming:
--How and Why to Teach Your Kids to Code by Melanie Pinola via Lifehacker
--5 Reasons to Teach Kids to Code via Kodable
--The Educator's Guide to Teaching HTML from Educator Labs
--Teaching Kids Programming with Khan Academy by Patrick Reagan via Viget
--Upgrade Your Brain: Programming Resources for Coding Newbies by Adam Benzion via The Next Web
--Teach Your Kids (And Yourself) How to Code with These iPad Apps by Derek Walter via Macworld.