Classroom Resources
Please see below for resources to help engage your students during Computer Science Education Week!
Resources for Early Childhood Classrooms
Have you ever looked inside a computer? This unplugged activity lets you “build” your very own computer from a paper template and learn what components make up the computer. Take a video and submit it to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
KIBO is a programmable robot designed for young learners that is completely unplugged (no computers needed!). BPS teachers can borrow KIBO from the BPS Lending Library. Take a video and submit it to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 5)!
BeeBots are screen-free tool to teach young learners about sequencing and problem solving, a fundamental skill in computer science. BPS teachers can borrow BeeBots from the BPS Lending Library. Take a video and submit it to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 5)!
From the computer science nonprofit Girls Who Code comes this lively and funny story introducing kids to computer coding concepts. After the read-aloud, challenge your students to "code" something of their own creation and submit it to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
Students will practice writing precise instructions as they work to translate instructions into the symbols provided. Take a video and submit to #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
Resources for Elementary Schools
Quick activity tutorials to get started with Scratch, a popular block-based programming tool. No account needed to try (but students will need an account to save and share their work). Submit completed work (if saved) to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 1, 2 or 3)!
Learn the basics of computer science by programming in Sprite Lab. You will create and animate sprites, and make your own interactive scenes. Don't forget to submit completed projects to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
Students will learn about accessibility and the value of empathy through brainstorming and designing accessible solutions for hypothetical apps. Submit completed projects to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 4 or 6)!
Students will use symbols to instruct each other to color squares on graph paper. By "programming" one another to draw pictures, students get an opportunity to experience some of the core concepts of programming in a fun and accessible way. Document student learning on video and submit to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
Resources for Middle & High Schools
Learn the basics of computer science by programming in Sprite Lab. You will create and animate sprites, and make your own interactive scenes. Recommended for students with no prior coding experience. Don't forget to submit completed projects to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
Use block coding to draw your own pictures and designs with the Artist! Recommended for students with little or no prior coding experience. Don't forget to submit completed projects to the #BPSCoders contest (Challenge 6)!
Resources to highlight diversity, equity, and access in Computer Science Education, from posters, panel discussion, and video bios of CS Heroes.
Series of four short videos with various careers in Computer Science. Each video is about 2 minutes long.
Additional Resources
Look for more activities in Hour of Code! Filter by grade, topic, and more.
Try physical computing with activities from Make:it code it (Visit BPS Lending Library to borrow micro:bits for your classroom!)