Scheduling Tips:
- 30 minutes each day at the beginning of the day as an opener or after lunch to refocus
- 1 to 1.5 hour dedicated period once a week at a consistent time
- OR just add coding as a way to turn in any assignment or final project. Example project ideas: HTML and CSS web page to turn in reports, jingles with Sonic Pi, math homework in Scratch, or JavaScript game on Khan Academy to demonstrate understanding.
Kindergarden and 1st Grade
Scratch Jr - Block building coding programs - It's never too early to start learning! Enjoy playing with this non-reader friendly application made for kids.
Keyboarding - Fun game to become oriented with the keyboard. Remember to have fun and take breaks frequently - they're little fingers need to build up the muscles needed to type.
2nd and 3rd Grade
Introduction to Binary - A fun game to introduce students to the binary number system.
Introduction to Robotics with Wonder Workshop - These robots and programming app is great for non-readers. It provides a good introduction to robotics and how to put code together to instruct a robot to do something.
Scratch Animation - Scratch uses a constructivist approach to learning how to program. This platform is also just one of the many MIT programming products that use blocks to learn the basics of programming. Later in the scope and sequence MIT App inventor 2 is the follow up program to Scratch.
Project Ideas: 1. Scratch animations to show math and language arts concepts. 2. Language arts skills like giving directions and ordered lists using the Wonder Workshop robots. 3. Showing understanding of integers with the binary game.
4th and 5th Grade
Introduction to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript - Pamela Fox gives a great introduction to HTML, CSS and JavaScript in a sandbox-like coding environment. Best of all, assessments are included!
Making a Website (using a template builder) - Using a template, like Weebly which I'm using here, gives students a quick way to get their ideas on the web and learn the structure of building a website. Students can also work on their HTML skills using the "embed code" feature.
Intro to Circuit Boards - Great website to teach about circuits without burning through all your LEDs in one go.
Sonic Pi - GREAT introductory programming environment that makes music as you program. The IDE has examples and lessons in help menu and Live and Coding has a ton of lessons and projects to do with kids.
Raspberry Pi - GREAT introductory computer project. Check out the website linked above for resources, videos, schematics, and lessons.
Project Ideas: 1. Instead of a research paper or trifold poster, make a web page to present student work. 2. Scratch animations to present concepts. 3. Prototype circuits with logic.ly. 4. Teach about the web and how to develop for it using a template builder. 5. Interactive and multi-media student portfolio using a template builder.
6th and 7th Grade
Introduction to Programming in Python - Python is a great first language to learn programming. It's used widely across the Tech industry both in web and engineering, from Google to Tesla. PyGame is a great library for making games and the Raspberry Pi computer is a wonderful and inexpensive way to learn how to program.
Building a Website (from Scratch)Now is the time to start building a website from scratch and learning the ins and outs of the web. This course on Treehouse takes you from start to finish, but there are many 'how to make a website' courses all over the web. Choose the one that's right for you, both in terms of time and budget.
Modifying Simple Games - GitHub is the programming community your students should know about if they want to share code and hop on existing open source projects. Be sure to go over some forum and code etiquette before letting them loose.
Introduction to Mobile Applications - The mature older sister (or brother) to Scratch. This app development environment is a great way to prototype your ideas without syntax errors.
Project Ideas: 1. Web pages to demonstrate understanding of concepts. 2. Applications to solve a problem in your community or school Click here for the "Hack a Problem" lesson plan.
8th and 9th Grade
Introduction to Programming in Java - Java is still the leading language on the AP Computer Science test, might be time to start thinking about learning how to do it... and there's no better way than building a Android app!
Mobile Applicaiton Development - Android Studio is just a small jump further into the app world from MIT app inventor and if your students had success with the MIT environment, they should do just fine here. The drag and drop IDE (for design only) makes it really easy to get started and know the objective you're trying to achieve.
Reading List - Must read books about the tech industry, including novels, history and articles.
If you feel like this list is a bit short, that's because it is... it's my most recent work in progress. Stay tuned, I'm adding things everyday!