Learning to Learn

• Every electronic device in your home, including your phone, television, even your microwave, is made possible because a person wrote code, which is like a computer language, to make your device work.
• Coding goes beyond tech skills and computer programing.
• Coding is considered a "digital literacy".   The same way that you learned how to read, you can learn how to read in computer code, which is the language that computers use. T
• Coding is essentially a language of problem-solving. Thinking like a computer, or "computational thinking", is a key concept of coding. The ability to troubleshoot, be creative, and work with others are valuable life skills for everyone. 

Coding Websites

• Code Academy - online and interactive coding lessons for high school students
• Code.org - non-profit focused on computer science and the originator of Hour of Code
• Codea - iPad app for high school student that allows users to create and design game and simulations.
• CodeHS - teaching platform to help teach computer science to high schools aged youth
• CS Teaching Tips - Computer Science teaching tips that help teachers anticipate students' difficulties and build upon their strengths
• Kodable - an iPad app for early elementary aged youth that teaches the basics of coding
• Lego Mindstorm - An iPad and Android app for middle school-aged youth that teaches the basics of coding in conjunction with the use of a specific device called EV3 robots
• Ozobot - Coding meets STEAM with these tiny robots, suitable for early elementary ages up to adults. By creating color-coded sequences, the user programs the robot to navigate along the chosen path. Even more, Ozobots can be coded to change colors and speed.
• Pixar in a Box - Partner content from Khan Academy, this resource offers a behind the scenes look at how Pixar artists do their jobs
• Scratch - a project of MIT that allows users to program their own stories
• Scratch Jr - iPad and Android app for early elementary aged youth that teaches the basics of coding
• Sphero - iPad and Android app for middle school-aged youth that teaches the basics of coding in conjunction with the use of specific robots (SPRK+, Ollie, and Sphero)
• Squishy Circuits - Squishy Circuits use conductive and insulating play dough to teach the basics of electrical circuits in a fun, hands-on way.
• Tynker - An iPad app for early elementary aged youth that teaches the basics of coding

Offline Coding Activities

• Binary Bracelets - craft for youth that teaches the basics of binary coding language 
• CS Fundamentals Unplugged - a list of unplugged activities from Code.org
• CS Unplugged -  a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through games and puzzles
• Cubetto - Coding without screens for children ages three and up
• Program a Friend - an activity that teaches the basics of coding as a set of instructions
• Tabletop coding - an unplugged coding activity using a checkerboard