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Turtle Academy offers lessons in LOGO programming language for beginner programmers. Select the Lessons link from the top left to begin and follow lesson activities. For those with...more

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Turtle Academy offers lessons in LOGO programming language for beginner programmers. Select the Lessons link from the top left to begin and follow lesson activities. For those with some programming experience, this site allows you to select any portion of lessons as a starting point. In addition to lessons, take advantage of Turtle Academy's playground to create, share, and save programs.
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tag(s): coding (110), computers (102), logic (175), STEM (385)

In the Classroom

Share Turtle Academy with students as part of a computer coding center. The ability to select different portions of lessons makes this a great tool for both novice and experienced programmers. Ask more proficient students to become advisors to newer programmers and share their knowledge and skills. Begin using this site by demonstrating lessons and activities on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector. Modify student learning and understanding by asking them to create video explainers for different skills using a tool like Clipchamp, reviewed here. then share videos on your class website for student use at any time. .

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Computational Thinking - TeachersFirst

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K to 12

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Dig into the meaning of computational thinking with this collection of resources. Computational thinking is expressing solutions so that humans and computers can understand them. A...more

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Dig into the meaning of computational thinking with this collection of resources. Computational thinking is expressing solutions so that humans and computers can understand them. A great way to visualize how to embed it in your classroom is to have the students think like the physicist, economist, artist, mathematician, etc. to identify the problems that need to be explored. This is not programming computers but logical ways for problem-solving. It is a problem-solving tool for every classroom that has students think like a problem solver and use higher level cognitive skills.

tag(s): computational thinking (44), engineering (136), logic (175), problem solving (282), STEM (385)

In the Classroom

Bring problem-solving and computational thinking into your classroom with these tools. Share on your class website, projector, whiteboard, or on individual devices. Topics range from coding to charts to logic.

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Minecraft Hour of AI and Code Tutorials - code.org

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2 to 12

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Use code to make your own Minecraft game or learn the basics of computer coding by moving characters through a Minecraft world with these Hour of Code activities. At the ...more

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Use code to make your own Minecraft game or learn the basics of computer coding by moving characters through a Minecraft world with these Hour of Code activities. At the top of the page, choose a Minecraft activity, such as Voyage Aquatic, Hero's Journey, Adventurer, or Designer. These activities teach and reinforce coding skills through the familiar Minecraft game. Scroll down to watch an inspirational video as an introduction. Free resources include a lesson plan, videos, computer science curriculum, and teacher training. The free trial is limited by the number of logins: 25 for teachers with an Office 365 Education account and 10 for all other users. Trial logins cannot be refreshed.

tag(s): coding (110), computational thinking (44), computers (102), critical thinking (188), design (76), problem solving (282), STEM (385)

In the Classroom

Make coding part of science inquiry or math logic in any classroom. Include it as part of the scientific method or discussions about careers in science. You may even want to portray coding as just another "world language" in today's world. Be sure to look at all the implementation advice before introducing these extensive coding resources to your class. It's wise to complete the Hour of Code yourself so you feel comfortable helping students if they get stuck. Better yet, invite a few students to do an hour with you after school and learn together! You will have a team of "techsperts" to help their peers. Plan an hour of Code on nationally designated days or on your own calendar! Invite the PTA/PTO to host a coding event. Select a video from this site to use to introduce Computer Science to your students. If you have only a few computers, introduce this tool using a projector or interactive whiteboard, and bookmark it as a learning station with earbuds/headphones. Encourage students to help each other when they have difficulty. Share this on your website so students can use it at home, too.

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Coding In the Classroom Resources - TeachersFirst

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K to 12

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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use...more

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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use with all grade and skill levels. Nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity. Find resources for just one hour of code or for use as ongoing technology lessons.

tag(s): coding (110), computational thinking (44), computers (102), critical thinking (188), design (76), makerspace (42), problem solving (282), STEM (385)

In the Classroom

Explore these resources for use with after-school computer clubs or as an excellent tool when recruiting skilled parent volunteers. Turn the intimidating content of computer programming into an exciting learning adventure for all with these helpful sites!

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Code - Hadi & Ali Partovi

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K to 10

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Code.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to computer science education and increasing participation by young women and students from underrepresented groups....more

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Code.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to computer science education and increasing participation by young women and students from underrepresented groups. It offers free, standards-aligned curricula for K-12 students, including courses like Computer Science Fundamentals for elementary students, CS Discoveries for middle school, and CS Principles for high school. The platform provides interactive tools such as App Lab, Game Lab, and Dance Party to make coding engaging and accessible. Educators can access comprehensive teaching resources, including lesson plans, videos, and assessments, as well as professional development opportunities like self-paced and facilitator-led workshops. Code.org also hosts the annual Hour of Code event to promote global participation in computer science.

tag(s): coding (110), computational thinking (44), computers (102), critical thinking (188), problem solving (282), STEM (385), women (194)

In the Classroom

Have students participate in a fun, self-paced Hour of Code activity, such as "Minecraft", "Dance Party", or "Frozen" coding tutorials. Using Storytelling with Scratch or Sprite Lab, students can code their own interactive short stories featuring characters, dialogue, and choices. Students use Game Lab to build a simple, playable video game. They can design the characters, code interactions, and add sound effects. Teach a lesson from Code.org's Internet Safety or Digital Citizenship units, which help students understand how to behave responsibly online.

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