Project CODE

This class is currently full for 2025.

Grade levels

4-7

Description

What do Google, YouTube and NASA all have in common? They all use Python coding technology! Join us in Project Code as we incorporate STEM concepts, computer science and robotics while learning the language of text-based coding, Python. Through unplugged and “plugged-in” mission objectives, we’ll get to explore the world of coding by learning how to program our own Code-X devices so that it can display images like your Apple watch, play songs like Alexa and test your reaction time like Simon. We will also be testing the skills needed to code (sequencing & problem-solving) during our Extended Day field trip to an escape room. This course can be taken a second time, with the understanding that you would be repeating the series of 12 missions from last year. Let’s get coding!

Instructor

Melissa Huffer: I am the Enrichment Facilitator, working with GT/High Potential students at Primary, Lakeside, and CLMS in Chisago Lakes and this will be my 3rd year with Project Seek! I live in Lindstrom with my husband and three boys and we absolutely love family game nights, cheering on the MN United Loons Soccer team, and enjoying all the outdoor adventures that our surrounding area has to offer; my favorites being fall hikes, bonfires and S'mores! I began my career in education over 16 years ago and as a parent and teacher of identified students, strive towards providing engaging, relevant and challenging learning opportunities for all of our students and am so excited to kick off my summer with Project Seek!

Extended Day Plan

Trapped Puzzle Room in St. Paul

*Requires an additional $10 payment to help cover transportation/admission costs.*

Class Updates

Week 1

I love the energy and excitement that comes along with the first of something . . . and the first week of Project CODE was no exception! We have a fabulous group of 15 students who came ready to code and honestly, they hit the ground running. They were introduced to CodeSpace, our learning platform for Python, and accepted the responsibility for their Codex "babies."

Missions 1-2: Getting Started - These missions walked students through CodeSpace showing them things like where the text editor is located and how to collect "tools" for their toolbox which includes vocab and info that will help along their coding adventure. There were also simulations that introduced them to their Codex devices and had them find different parts such as the CPU, battery switch and LEDs. That moment when they’ve successfully coded <display.show(pics.HEART)> and the image appears on their Codex screen…pure joy!

Missions 3-4: Light Show & Display Games - We may not make it past Mission 4 because your young computer science lovers have a knack for coding and are going rogue! Yes the LED color options are fun and sure, who doesn’t love the ability to code an “if/else statement” that allows you to make a simple handheld game? But when there’s a virtual “sandbox” to play in that allows them to exit out of the Mission objectives and immediately begin creating and coding whatever they think of next? Game over. Ha! Some say that it takes 10,000 hours to gain mastery in a given skill, so I absolutely LOVE that students are so eager and undeterred to code outside the parameters of the step-by-step missions…but I ALSO love that some continue to stay focused on “leveling up” and completing each Mission. Each objective helps to explain the “why” behind the Python code and begins improving retention as they work on typing in their code. I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Snack Time!

We get about 15 minutes each day to walk down to the cafeteria and enjoy a snack. This is when students have the opportunity to purchase something from the "Strike it Rich" class whether it be a sweet or salty treat or a 3-D printed creation. Each day there's a little something different and it's always fun to see what catches their eye (or their appetite)!

Week 2

Today was one of my most favorite Project Code days as we enjoyed an unplugged activity called, "Robot, make me a sandwich!" Students had to write their own step-by-step instructions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then dictate those instructions to their partner. Partners were given explicit instructions NOT to do something unless specifically told to do so. The importance of details (even minor ones like, "put the bread on a plate" or "pick up the butter knife") becomes evident very quickly and students brought their pens with to "debug" as we went along. What's even more fun, is that we got to enjoy what we made at the end...even if the sandwich was peanut butter side out! LOL! Take a moment to ask what step(s) your coder forgot to include in their sandwich making instructions or where they might have hesitated when being told what to do (because they didn't want to put their fingers in the jelly jar!)

Extended Day!!!

It’s hard NOT to love an extended/field trip day . . . especially when we get to experience a Trapped Puzzle Room! The St. Paul location was kind enough to open their doors two hours earlier than normal to welcome not only Project Code but our young friends in the Rube Goldberg’s Engineering class as well! There were only a handful of us who had gone through a puzzle room before and I was so proud of everyone for making it out of their rooms within the allotted 60 minutes!

With a coding class, it’s expected that students are working on their computers for most of our time together so to be able to unplug for the entire day and instead, put our teamwork and critical thinking skills to the test was fantastic! We were reminded that it would take "brains, not brawn" to successfully solve each puzzle room challenge and I was so impressed with their overall collaboration, perseverance and positive attitudes throughout the whole experience. And despite it being hot and humid, they all seemed to enjoy time running around at the “Dragon park” in Forest Lake and were great representatives of our program for local families who were there as well.

CODEX Spirit Week!

"C" is for "Coding around the room in our comfy cozies!" I love any excuse to wear my sweats and a t-shirt to school and bringing in our blankets to snuggle up and code was even more enjoyable! One of the students' favorite unplugged activities this year was "Magic Square" where they had to guess the step-by-step pattern/code created by their peers. While you each take your turn, you have to observe the moves made in previous turns in order to know what was correct and what had been tried already. It didn't take long before students began working together, encouraging each other, reminding them of which spaces were correct and suggesting what move might be next. I am continually in awe of their collaborative spirit and how it transfers over to their coding adventures as well!

"O" is "Go for a walk Outside!" We went for a walk around the school with a challenge of trying to find examples of code and programming in our community. It didn't take long to realize that coding exists all around us and it's easy to take for granted how much we depend on technology in our everyday lives. It was beautiful day to get outside and enjoy those natural graphics all around us!

"D" is for "Dress up in your School Colors and show some Wildcat, Viking, Dragon & Tiger pride!" While I failed to get a picture of all our school colors, there was definitely a buzz of excitement as students were working on some of their own Re-mixes of missions in preparation for tomorrow's Open House.

Here is an example of a coding vision that came to life over the past few days. Not only was there a joyous celebration when the program worked the way that he wanted it to, but pride and appreciation when he gave a "shout out" to the people who helped in the process. This has been an absolutely wonderful group of students to work with . . . I'm not quite ready for our coding adventures to be over!

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