Tynker Lessons
This coding prompt allows students to apply their creativity and coding skills to the English language. Students are provided with a worksheet to collect information about their favorite word before they start coding. This prompt comes with sample projects and ideas on how students can showcase their favorite word.
Tynker is the Official Coding Partner for the Scripps National Spelling Bee®.
Teacher Notes: Students will use their block coding skills to create a project that shows off their English language knowledge. Students will research their favorite word's definition, origin, root words, and more! Encourage your students to be creative!
The following weekly projects are available for only 2 weeks, and after that, they are gone! Once assigned, students always have access to them.
June 2, 2024
Burger Bonanza - Father's Day is just around the corner, and students can celebrate their fathers and father figures in their life by programming an interactive burger-building game! Students will follow a step-by-step tutorial to create their own Burger Bonanza project with customized toppings, message, background music, and more. By the end of this lesson, students will have applied coding concepts such as, conditional loops, advanced math, advanced motion, delays, visibility, cloning, variables, simple/advanced messaging, detecting conditions, simple sound playing, and simple costume handling.
Intermediate experience required.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through Tynker Blocks and Python.
April 16, 2024
Plant Trees - In this lesson, advanced-level coders will follow a step-by-step tutorial where they will create a tree planting game, because trees lower the carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere. Additionally, students are encouraged to customize their project by drawing their own gardening tools, tree animations, and backgrounds! By the end of this lesson, students will have combined creativity and coding concepts such as, simple loops, simple/advanced costume handling, simple drawing, and cloning while reinforcing environmental awareness.
Intermediate experience required.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through Tynker Blocks and Python.
April 1, 2024
Cupcake Prank - In this lesson, students create a fun April Fools’ game! Players must choose a cupcake—but if they choose wrong, they'll be met with a troll surprise. Students are provided code blocks and step-by-step instructions to create this simple game of chance. Coding concepts include conditional logic, basic probability, and loops. The tutorial prompts students to customize their game by changing the dialogue, music, and other assets.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
March 18, 2024
Easter Decorator - Spring is here! In this Tynker lesson, students will learn to create an egg art project that uses pointillism techniques. Students will begin by discussing about pointillism and variables. They'll reinforce coding concepts such as variables, graphic effects, conditionals, loops, functions, and pen drawing as they bring their egg art to life using code. The DIY module includes a sample project, step-by-step tutorial, code blocks to help students get started, bonus challenges, and ideas on how students can modify their code.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
March 4, 2024
Rainbow Rider - Students will have fun with this St. Patrick's Day project. They will follow the tutorial to create a colorful game and help a friendly leprechaun find his pot of gold. In this game, a pot of gold bounces across the screen leaving a rainbow trail. The student must also code the game play to trace the rainbow trail to reunite the leprechaun with his gold. Coding concepts include: game state management, booleans, loops, color detection, simple physics, and simple collision.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
February 26, 2024
Pi Day Art - In this lesson, students can join the fun of Pi Day by following a step-by-step tutorial where they will create a project that turns the digits of Pi into a work of art! Students will have combine creativity, problem-solving skills, and coding concepts such as simple drawing, simple variables, advanced string handling, text drawing, simple loops, and basic math.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
January 29, 2024
Dancing Dragon - Lunar New Year is here! In this lesson, students will learn about Chinese traditions while creating a fun, interactive Dancing Dragon project using Tynker. Students will begin by discussing the Lunar New Year and sketching images of a dragon's head/body. They'll reinforce coding concepts such as variables, loops, functions, and cloning as they bring their dragon art to life using code. The DIY module includes a sample project, step-by-step tutorial, code blocks to help students get started, two challenge activities, and ideas on how students can modify their code.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
December 11, 2023
Snowflake Maker - Ready to create colorful snowflakes? In this lesson, students will follow a step-by-step tutorial where they will create a Snowflake Maker project using Tynker! Students will begin with a discussion on snowflake geometry and then create snowflake art using code. The DIY module includes a sample project, step-by-step tutorial, code blocks to help students get started, and ideas on how students can modify their code.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
November 20, 2023
Falling Feast - In this lesson, students are introduced to Tynker’s Pose Tracking AI library while creating an item-catching game. They use the Face Detection blocks to track the state and position of their mouth in their camera feed, in order to "catch" virtual food items with their open mouth and score points. Students follow the step-by-step instructions to create this interactive project. Coding concepts include conditionals, conditional loops, simple pose detection, simple landmarks, simple variables, and cloning. Webcam required.
Available on the web.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks.
November 6, 2023
Tricky Turkeys - In this lesson, students will search and add potential Actors that the turkeys can hide behind during their game. They'll reinforce coding concepts such as simple variables, lists, cloning, and input/output as they create a Tricky Turkeys game where the player needs to click the different hiding places to find turkeys. The DIY module includes a sample project, step-by-step tutorial, code blocks to help students get started, and ideas on how students can modify their code.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks
October 23, 2023
Costume Party - In this lesson, students are introduced to Tynker's Pose Tracking AI library while creating a costume party project. They use the Face Detection blocks to make various costume parts follow their face. Students follow the step-by-step instructions to create this interactive project. The tutorial prompts students to customize the costumes and positions on the face to follow. Coding concepts include simple loops, simple motion, video control, simple pose detection, simple landmarks, direction and turning, and simple costume handling. Webcam required.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks
October 9, 2023
Spider Spin - Halloween is around the corner! Ready to create art using code and spider webs? In this lesson, students will apply their knowledge of coordinates and reinforce coding concepts such as functions, advanced motion, simple conditionals, simple drawing, and pen color as they create an interactive art project that creates colorful spider webs.
Available on the web and through the iOS app.
Applicable to all grades through JavaScript and Tynker Blocks
