What is Coding?
Coding is like giving instructions to a very obedient robot, or your computer, so it does exactly what you want it to do. Imagine you are telling a friend how to make a peanut butter sandwich, step by step. You say, “Open the bread, spread the peanut butter, close the bread.” Coding is the same idea, but instead of a sandwich, your robot or program follows your instructions. Every “if this, then that” and “repeat this step” is a little piece of magic that makes computers, games, and apps work.
Check out this hilarious video of a dad applying coding steps to making his son a PB&J
What is the Hour of Code?
The Hour of Code is like a coding party for beginners. In just one hour, students can try fun, interactive coding activities, like making a character move, creating animations, or even playing a little coding game. It’s designed for everyone, no prior coding experience required! It’s a great way to see that coding isn’t scary, it’s like a puzzle or game, just with rules that computers follow.
Where to Start Coding in the Classroom
- Hour of Code – ready-made tutorials and activities that can be done in one class period.
- Scratch – a platform where students can create animations, games, or stories.
I tried Scratch in my class this week. Honestly? The end result was okay, but the platform felt cluttered and overwhelming. Too many buttons, too many options, and it took a long time to get one simple animation working. One second of fun animation after 20 minutes of setup is kind of a tough sell for younger kids. But with guidance, it could still be a cool way to introduce creative coding.
How Coding Fits into the BC Curriculum
Coding shows up in the BC Curriculum in Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies, and it can also link to math, science, and even literacy. A great example I observed in a kindergarten class used a little robot on the floor. Students had to program the robot with a remote to move through a maze on a mat, using commands like “forward,” “left,” and “right.” It was amazing to watch how engaged the kids were, they were learning sequencing, problem-solving, and spatial thinking, all while moving around the classroom.