“‘Tis the season to be coding,” it’s Computer Science Week!
Envision a classroom buzzing with the sound of young minds crafting their first lines of code. It’s a place where ideas take digital form, where apps, games, and solutions are born. Coding is not only the language of the future it is the language of today. It teaches logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, skills that are invaluable in virtually every field. During Computer Science Week, we highlight these skills, showcasing coding not just as a technical ability but as a tool for expression and innovation.
Computer Science Week isn’t just about learning to code; it’s about inspiring a generation of innovators. It’s about showing students that they can be creators, not just consumers, of technology. Activities from the Achievery offer an opportunity to ignite a spark that could grow into a lifelong passion in the world of computer science. It’s about students seeing themselves as future app developers, AI researchers, and tech entrepreneurs.
The demand for computer science professionals is skyrocketing, but the basics of coding and computer science remain elusive to many of our students from our underserved communities. Yet, these are the very skills that could shape their future careers and personal lives. By introducing students to computer science, we’re not just teaching them a subject; we’re opening doors to endless possibilities. This week serves as a reminder and a call to action: Computer Science is not just about a week; it’s about being Future Ready!
For educators, this week is an opportunity to explore resources to bring computer science to life in their classrooms. The Achievery, a free online digital learning platform, offers a wide variety of resources for educators of all experience levels. From creating your first Virtual Pet in Scratch to learning Computational Thinking with Girls Who Code, teachers can find the right activity to weave computer science into their learning experiences. So, let’s use Computer Science Week as an opportunity to inspire our students to dream, innovate, and create!
Create your free account today and check out some of the great resources from The Achievery!
Share your favorite activity with a friend using the hashtags #FutureReady & #Achievery
Here are some activities to help celebrate!
1. Computational Thinking
In this activity, you will learn all about Computational Thinking with Girls Who Code alumni Alaina. Computational Thinking is a problem-solving technique that utilizes four elements: decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms.
2. Create a Virtual Pet
You can make a virtual pet simulator in Scratch! This learning activity is for students and can be done on your own or with a peer. With this tutorial, you’ll learn how to introduce your pet, animate your pet, feed your pet, and keep track of your pet’s hunger.
3. Coding a Piano
With Scratch, you don’t need to know how to play the piano in order to create one. This activity guides students through the process of designing and coding their own piano-based keyboard. With a little coding, your students will be jamming in no time!
4. Create a Pong Game
Ready Player One! Pong is one of the first computer games ever created, and it simulates table tennis by using two paddles and a ball. In this activity, students are able to code their very own pong computer game with multiple levels and more!
5. Create a Math Game
One of the best ways to learn math is by doing math. So what better way to “do math” than by creating a game to learn math? In this activity, students learn to create a math-based game using variables, sensing, and if-then statements.
