Lower School Coders Celebrate #CSEdWeekKC

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to show that anybody can learn the basics of coding, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science. The Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week.

 

In Ashley Wiles’ lower school STEAM room, students from kindergarten through grade 5 flexed their coding skills through a variety of activities. Some of the students brought Cassie along with them — a character created by the KC Tech Council to increase interest in computer science and showcase the way teachers are engaging students in coding and tech activities.

 

Kindergarteners are studying Antarctica in their classroom, so during STEAM time they worked on coding unplugged to move a penguin into an igloo while avoiding the ice. (Unplugged lessons teach computer science fundamentals without screen time, by using sequential instructions, conditional if/then statements and basic binary language.

 

First graders used Makerspace time to code Ozobots around self-created maps of Kansas City.

 

Fourth grade students have been problem-solving through coding with words related to Barstow character traits. Teams worked together to program appropriate directions for the Ozobot to travel across words including community, citizenship, generosity, and service. 

 

Fifth grade students completed a Dance Party activity on code.org, then went on a

coding scavenger hunt to find terms and definitions related to Computer Science.

Barstow’s STEAM program embraces the idea that every student can learn coding and computer science to nurture critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills and that by starting early, they gain confidence as they build and master 21^st century skills.