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10 Tools for the Hour of Code

The Hour of Code is coming soon (December 5 - 11)! Peruse this curated list of ten fabulous finds for all grades and share them with your students.

Grades K-12

Hour of Code

Join students around the globe any time December 5–11 in participating in Hour of Code activities. Register your event to be included in the global map of events, receive updates, and obtain help finding a local software engineer to inspire students.

Grades 3-12

Try an Hour of Code with Khan Academy

Check out these courses to introduce beginners to coding through videos, challenges, and final projects. Topics include drawing with Javascript, using HTML and CSS to make webpages, and an Hour of Databases activity. Take advantage of the teacher’s guide.

Grades 6-12

CodeGuppy

Examine these lessons that students you how to work with pixels and coordinates, draw colored lines and shapes, and customize many different games and activities. Click the link to Hour of Code to find “Draw with Code,” a downloadable book.

Grades 4-12

Blockly

Explore this open source library of drag-and-drop blocks that generate computer codes in JavaScript, Python, and other coding formats. Use each block to stack and add information to create infinite combinations of code.

Grades 2-6

Disney Hour of Code Digital Toolkit - Moana: Wayfinding with Code

Participate in Hour of Code activities using Disney's Moana as an engaging introduction to computer science. This site includes videos, a printable toolkit (with many suggestions), and a hands-on coding adventure for elementary students.

Grades K-12

Microsoft MakeCode

Learn computer science with hands-on learning projects for all ages and inspire computing projects for your classroom. Introductory courses for middle school students teach the basics of coding and beyond.

Grades 6-12

Edabit

Start with a challeng that matches your coding skill level, then continue learning as you progress through more challenging activities. Each Edabit challenge includes a problem, practice with code, help resources, and a discussion area.

Grades 2-12

Minecraft Hour of Code Tutorials

These Hour of Code activities teach and reinforce coding skills through the familiar Minecraft game. Use code to make your own game or learn the basics of computer coding by moving characters through a Minecraft world.

Grades 6-12

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an organization founded to help close the gender gap in technology. They offer several programs that allow girls to explore coding with peers. Click on Programs to find ready-to-go activities to share with your students.

Grades K-12

Pencil Code Gym

Code your own art, music, and interactive fiction! The main language is CoffeeScript, but you can click Reference in the upper left corner to use HTML for writing tags in your code. Click on the pencil on the top left to find a teacher's manual.

This Week at TeachersFirst

Engage in professional learning this week with an upcoming Twitter chat and our Infusing Technology blog. Stop by and say hello if you’re attending the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) conference, and don’t forget to give your input in our weekly poll!