CODE ZONE WORKSHOP:

WEEK 1:

INTRODUCTION ~ CODING WORKSHOP

Week 1 consists of one introductory session. (Weeks 2-4 consist of two sessions each.)

Initial Activity: Student Instructions

As you move around the LMC throughout this workshop, you will see five different stations set up that offer you five ways to explore coding. What is coding? Start exploring and I think you’ll start to see pretty quickly.

Station 1: Coding Books

Look through the books at this station to start getting an idea of what coding is and how it works. Python for Kids, Super Scratch Programming Adventure!, and Coding for Beginners Using Scratch all involve using a computer to actually start programming, so if you would like, you can use a computer to practice some of the first steps shown in the books.

Station 2: Code.org®

Look around at this website to see some of the games that you could program if you come back for the next sessions in this workshop.

If you want to actually try one of the sessions, we recommend that you click on Course 2 on this page: https://studio.code.org/. Then try any of the Stages, though it might be best to start with Stage 3: Maze: Sequence. Make sure to watch the videos as you go to get an idea of how to complete the tasks.

Station 3: Coding With Paper

Work with a partner to play this game.

Partner #1: Your job is to place a few different objects on the board.

1. Start by placing the earth picture and the moon picture anywhere on the board (the paper with the squares). Put the rocket ship on the earth picture.
2. Put out a few obstacles between these two pictures (pictures of the satellites and UFOs). Don’t make this too hard right away, and make sure this is still a possible path that the rocketship could use to go from the moon picture to the sun picture.

Partner #2: Use the coding blocks (all of the blocks with directions on them)

1. Put down the coding blocks in an order that would move the rocket ship from the picture of the earth to the picture of the moon. Here is an example.
2. Like they do in the example, use the repeat blocks so that you do not have to use a different block every time you want the ship to move forward.

Partner #1: Follow Partner #2’s instructions to move the rocket ship.

1. Look at the directions that Partner #2 has laid out. Follow those directions to see if they actually get the rocket ship to move from Earth to the moon.

If the directions worked, switch roles and play again. If they did not, work together to make them work.

Station 4: Osmo Coding

Experiment with the coding blocks at this station. Put different blocks together. Put the Play block on last, push play, and watch the character (Awbie) move on the screen. Notice that he moves exactly how the blocks tell him to.

Now try to put the blocks in order to get Awbie to collect all of the apples that you can see.

Notice that you can turn the arrows to get him to move different directions.

You can also put numbers next to the blocks to get him to repeat the action as many times as the number says.

You can also see the path he will take as you add blocks to your sequence.

Station 5: Dot and Dash

Use the Blockly app on the iPad to explore with Dash and Dot.

Put in any combinations of blocks, push play, and watch Dash or Dot act out your sequence.

WEEK 2:

Now that you have an idea of how coding works as a step-by-step process, you are ready to start being the one who tells the computer what to do! Try out the activities on the schedule. (Don’t forget to help one another, and be sure to ask for help if you need it.)

There will be two 45 minute sessions each week.

Code.org

1. Click on the purple STUDENTS box with the bumblebee
2. Make sure to watch the videos! They will tell you what to do.
3. Start with Course 2, Stage 3, and work your way through the activities. Some of them have a quiz at the end, and some of them have a free choice activity. See how far you can get by the end of the week!
4. If you have to stop between sessions, write down where you leave off on a sticky note. The site doesn’t keep track of your progress.
5. Keep going on the second day.
6. You can go to the site and work at home if you choose. (This is not required.)

WEEK 3:

Code.org

1. In the first session, continue to work on the Stages and see if you can challenge yourself with some real coding.
2. In the second session, go back to one of the Artist stages and use the activity at the end to create an original coded project.
3. Save your creation to share.

WEEK 4:

https://www.madewithcode.com/projects/

https://www.tynker.com/#/sign-in-student/ (There are three activities in our class group to choose from. They are Comic Creator, Animated Card Creator, and Pattern Maker.)

1. Choose a final project from one of the links to share on the workshop website.
2. Complete the project. Make sure you are satisfied with it. You have plenty of time.
3. Download your project if you have that option. Put it in your Google Drive.
4. Use the snipping tool if you are unable to download. Save it to your Google Drive if possible.
5. Your name or initials should be part of the file name when you save your project.
6. Share your project with the teachers by Google or email so we can put it on the workshop website.
7. Ask for help with coding or sharing if you need it!

STUDENT SURVEY

(TO BE GIVEN AT END OF WORKSHOP OR CODING CLUB SESSIONS)

Can be giving to students via Google Forms "quiz", Survey Monkey, or Paper:

1. What is computer coding?

2. Do you enjoy computer coding?

3. Why?

4. What were your favorite parts of the workshop?

5. What did you find the most challenging?

6. How would you describe the level of coding that you are at now?

7. How will computer coding help you in the future?

8. How can we improve our Workshop?