Introduction to Coding - Lessons 1 - 6 - Prof Cody Teaches Kids to Code

This resource has been produced to teach children from 8 – 14 years of age about programming concepts by creating fun activities using the visual programming language Scratch 3.0. The activities and challenges have been designed to provide a stimulating, engaging and effective way of improving students’ knowledge of core programming concepts. Students also have to complete a series of challenges at the end of each activity.

Each Lesson includes:

A student worksheet including activities and challenges.
A teacher PowerPoint for use in class or online.
A complete video tutorial.
Scratch templates to get your students started.

Professor Cody Teaches Kids to Code using Scratch 3.0 – Lesson 1 – What is Coding?
This lesson is about algorithms and how they are used to produce computer programs.
Students will learn about the use of sequences of instructions and why it is important that these instructions are given in the correct order. They will create a dance computer program, add music and watch their very own choreographed dance! Lesson 1 comes with a complete video tutorial that will both engage and motivate.

Professor Cody Teaches Kids to Code using Scratch 3.0 – Lesson 2 – Using Variables
This lesson introduces the concept of variables and students have the opportunity of using text variables and number variables and completing a series of challenges.

Professor Cody Teaches Kids to Code using Scratch 3.0 – Lesson 3 – Using Selection
This lesson introduces the concept of selection and students have the opportunity of developing programs that use If and If then Else block structures. They will learn how to make a multi-answer quiz and create a Crack the Code game.

Professor Cody Teaches Kids to Code using Scratch 3.0 – Lesson 4 – Using Iteration (Repetition)
This lesson introduces the concept of Iteration (Repetition) and students have the opportunity of developing programs that repeat loops as well as forever loops. They will learn how to make programs more efficient by creating shapes using a repeat loop and will then move on to create a scary game using repeats and forever loops.

Professor Cody Teaches Kids to Code using Scratch 3.0 – Lesson 5 – Using Procedures & Functions
This lesson introduces the concept of Procedures and Functions using My Blocks.
Students have the opportunity of developing programs that use procedures to spray a car in a car factory as well as procedures used to build a house. They will also have the opportunity to create a function that returns a value to the main program.

Professor Cody Teaches Kids to Code using Scratch 3.0 – Lesson 6 – Using Arrays (Lists)
This lesson introduces the concept of Arrays using Scratch Lists. Students have the opportunity of developing programs that use arrays to make a birthday present list. They also get to make a memory game, where they have to memorise a series of items in a list. Finally, they use an array to create a high scorer list in a game.