In honor of the #HourOfCode, students were treated to lessons in coding during the month of December. Lessons were carefully crafted to move students through several skill sets used in coding. It’s important to note that many of the skills used in coding apply to learning in general. For example, problem solving, perseverance, critical thinking.
The first lessons involved Kinesthetic exercises, referred to as “unplugged”lessons, followed by an iPad App lesson, and ending with a Code.org experience. Students were captivated by the “unplugged” lessons, thrilled with the iPad lessons and enthralled by the code.org options. In other words, students enjoyed the coding experience.
You can view pictures and videos of the student coding experience on twitter by following @DrydenTech or on the Dryden School Facebook page.
Links to apps and video used in lessons, as well as additional resources, are included below. Many of the apps, as well as code.org are free. Students may be interested in continuing the coding experience at home.
For Grades K - 2
Brainpop-computer programming video 5:55min.
Coding Unplugged Grid/Arrows on floor from code.org
Kodable App on iPads
code.org Course 1 lesson 4, Maze Sequence using ARROWS. iPad or Computer.
or
For Grades 3 - 5
Brainpop-computer programming video 5:55min.
Cups Unplugged: https://csedweek.org/giles/csedrobotics.pdf
Lightbot Hour of Code App on iPads
CargoBot App on iPads
Addtional Resources
Google: Made w/ Code and Other Projects (block code) offer a variety of challenges that can be accomplished in short time frames. Access from a browser on Computer or iPad. Easy to do at home or in classroom centers.
code.org: Code with Anna & Elsa of Frozen (block code) an hour of code instruction with progressively more challenging coding steps.
code.org: Angry Birds (block code) more hour of code fun with the popular angry birds series.
code.org: Play Lab (block code) in addition to moving blocks and selecting variables, this set of exercises offers fill in the "words" to increase the skill level.
All these options from CODE.ORG can be accessed from a browser on Computer or iPad. Easy to do at home or in classroom centers. No login required.
Khan Academy Hour of Code: Drawing pictures with code and/or Drawing pictures with Blocks both featuring snowmen! Also try Khan hour of code from 2013 projects.
Scratch Hour of Code 2014 : see additional projects here
The folks at MIT developed Scratch and Scratch Jr in an effort to get younger students engaged in coding. Scratch can be a little more challenging, but students quickly adapt and love it.
A game that allows kids to learn the basics of programming, Cargo-bot is the first game programmed entirely on iPad using Codea. A puzzle game where users teach a robot how to move and reassemble crates into color patterns, this app provides high-quality retina graphic, and recordable solutions users can share on YouTube. YouTube also has great "cheats" as some of these puzzles are quite a challenge.
Light-bot App (coding concepts for younger students)
Similar to Cargo-bot, but a little easier, this coding app is a programming puzzle game: a puzzle game that uses game mechanics that are firmly rooted in programming concepts. Light-bot lets players gain a practical understanding of basic control-flow concepts like procedures, loops, and conditionals, just by guiding a robot with commands to light up tiles and solve levels. Light-bot features 40 levels and 20 challenge stars to collect.
Daisy the Dinosaur App (younger students create with block code)
Learn the basics of computer programming in this coding app that has an easy drag-and-drop interface that students of all ages can use to animate Daisy to dance across the screen. Students will intuitively grasp the basics of objects, sequencing, loops and events by solving this app’s challenges. After playing Daisy, kids can choose to download a kit to program their own computer game.
Hopscotch App (blockly code for older students)
Hopscotch requires a login. It teaches students to code using simple, intuitive building blocks. Students can create games, animations and other programs, as well as tell stories in this colorful, interactive environment. Students can program characters to move and use commands like shaking, tilting, or even shouting at the iPad to control them. Hopscotch was inspired by MIT’s Scratch.
Kodable App
Kodable is a game offering a kid-friendly introduction to programming concepts and problem solving. For kids ages 5 and up, and tools for adults as well. This app is ideal for grades K through 2 aged students.
Happy Coding,
Beth Breaux
Dryden Technology Facilitator
No comments:
Post a Comment