• Coding

    As an introduction, use either Brain Pop or Brain Pop Jr. to introduce coding and computer programing. These are free from Brain Pop:
    https://jr.brainpop.com/artsandtechnology/technology/computerprogramming/
    https://www.brainpop.com/technology/computerscience/computerprogramming/

    In Tynker.com https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/teacher  Tynker coding  there are nine puzzle sets. Puzzles are listed in order from easiest to most difficult. Puppy Adventure and Candy Quest are best for younger students or students who have no experience with programming. Hot Wheels (Obstacle Course), Monster High(Scavenger Hunt), Code Monsters, and Dragon Dash are best for older students or students who have already completed an easier puzzle set.

    • Puppy Adventure - Beginner (K+). https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/puppy-adventure In this puzzle set, students must program Pixel the Puppy to help him get home. They’ll work on basic sequencing to navigate him around obstacles, then start adding in more complex programming concepts like conditionals and loops for repetition. This activity has audio instructions on web. 

    • Candy Quest​ - Beginner (K+). https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/candy-quest Students create a custom character and program the character to navigate obstacles, collect candy, and get back to the computer. Puzzles introduce sequencing, conditionals, and loops. This activity has audio instructions on web. 

    • Puzzle Solutions Hot Wheels: Obstacle Course - Beginner (3+). https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/hot-wheels (Independent reading is involved.) Students ​ will solve a set of 20 puzzles to navigate a Hot Wheels racecar. They’ll learn programming concepts like sequencing, conditionals, loops, while also reinforcing math concepts like distance, speed, changing direction, and acceleration. 

    • Monster High: Scavenger Hunt​ - Beginner (3+). https://www.tynker.com/lesson/v2/host (Independent reading is involved.) Students solve 20 coding puzzles to guide Monster High characters through a scavenger hunt. These puzzles get quite challenging in later levels and require students to construct complex algorithms. 

    • Code Monsters​ - Intermediate (3+). https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/code-monsters This game includes the monsters fighting each other.  In this fun coding game, students must collect, train, and battle their monsters against a team of rival monsters. To capture and train their monsters, they’ll need to use programming to determine the attack logic. As they play, students learn basic programming concepts like conditional logic and sequencing.

    • Dragon Dash​ - Intermediate (3+). https://www.tynker.com/lesson/v2/host?c=setup The students design their own dragon. In each puzzle, students must navigate their dragon to get to the treasure. Each level introduces additional challenges and obstacles, like fireflies and knights, and students must apply computational thinking and programming skills to get past them. They’ll learn about sequencing, conditionals, and loops. Puzzle Solutions.

    From CODE.ORG:
    Pre-reader Express (Pre-K to Grade 1)

    Learn to Code Basics 101
    Keep Coding 102

    KODABLE (Pre-k to Grade 1)
    Beach Cleanup
    Introduction video
    Kodable.com

    CODEMONKEY JR. (Pre-K to Grade 1)

    Program a monkey’s journey through the world
    CodeMonkey