Dear Reader,
I started studying computer programming at the age of twelve, which is not so young in today’s context. But my first computer class was in 1965! I loved the logic and the thrill of problem solving, and it was then that I decided to pursue programming as a career. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine how far computer technology would develop, but naturally I’m a big believer in teaching programming skills to kids. Today’s Hour of Code topic is in honor of this week’s designation as Computer Science Education week.
See ya on the Net,
Barbara J. Feldman
“Surfing the Net with Kids”
https://www.surfnetkids.com
Hour of Code
https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/hour-of-code/
Hour of Code Printable(** for Premium Members only)
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables/files/printables-club/learn_to_code.pdf
Hour of Code is a global campaign created in 2013 by Code.org to introduce millions of students to computer programming during Computer Science Education Week at the beginning of December. Dozens of sites have created tutorials for Hour of Code. Here are my favorites.
Disney: Hour of Code
Disney’s four Hour of Code activities feature storylines based on Moana, Star Wars, Frozen, and Bif Hero 6. The site also includes a PDF about how to create an Hour of Code event in your town. “When the [Moana] tutorial starts students will help Moana and Maui sail through unknown territory and steer their boat using basic coding commands of sequences and loops. As students learn these coding skills and master the art of navigation, Moana and Maui are suddenly attacked by Kakamora, coconut-armored pirates. There’s only one way to defeat the Kakamora – counter attack!”
Grok Learning: Short Activities
“Use the programming language Python to build a chatbot called ‘Eliza.’ Can she fool your friends into thinking she’s a human not a computer?” This is just one of twelve courses offered by Grok Learning for Hour of Code. Grok Learning also offers the first two modules of their paid online classes for free, if you want to continue your coding education.
Kahn Academy: Hour of Code
Pick from three Kahn Academy Hour of Code projects: Hour of Drawing with Code (JavaScript), Hour of Webpages (HTML and CSS), or Hour of Databases (SQL). The first two are rated for ages eight and up, and the SQL hour is designed for students twelve and up. “Like playing with data? Learn how to manipulate data in a database and make your own custom store.”
… Click to continue to Hour of Code
Printables Club Members Also Get …
Surfnetkids Printables Club Members also get the following printables to use in the classroom, the computer lab, the school library, or to send home with students:
Hour of Code Printable
Hour of Code Wikipedia Printable
Creating a Web Page Printable
History of the Internet Printable
*** Are you curious? Get your own ten-day trial membership:
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables-club/
Related Games
History of Computing Printable Crossword
Quote of the Week
“When somebody has learned how to program a computer … You’re joining a group of people who can do incredible things. They can make the computer do anything they can imagine.” ~~ Tim Berners-Lee ~~ (b. June 8, 1955) British computer scientist known for inventing the World Wide Web. You can read more Berners-Lee quotes by clicking this link.
Surfing the Calendar
Universal Human Rights Month December
Game of Bingo Created by Edwin S. Lowe Dec, 1929
Thirteenth Amendment to US Constitution Ratified Dec 6, 1865
Ira Gershwin’s Birthday Dec 6, 1896
Computer Science Education Week Dec 6-12, 2022
Pearl Harbor Attacked by Japan Dec 7, 1941
John Lennon Murdered Dec 8, 1980
Computer Mouse Developed Dec 9, 1968
Admiral Grace Hopper’s Birthday Dec 9, 1906
Emily Dickinson’s Birthday Dec 10, 1830
Human Rights Day Dec 10, 2022
Nobel Prize Award Ceremony Dec 10, 2022
Geminids Meteor Shower Dec 13-14, 2022
Total Solar Eclipse Dec 14, 2020
Bill of Rights Anniversary (Celebrated as Bill of Rights Day) Dec 15, 1791
Ludwig von Beethoven’s Birthday Dec 16, 1770
Boston Tea Party Dec 16, 1773