You do not have to wait for your homeschool students to grow up and understand how a complex coding program works in order to begin teaching them the basics of coding. Very young children in primary grades can also be taught the logic behind how code works. Introduction to the step by step manner in which coding takes place is easy for children to grasp when they use the same process in another area. Here are some resources to help pique their interest.
Code Monkey Island – This is a game played on a board which is ideal for players of ages 9 and above. The object of the game is to take your set of monkeys to the banana grove while avoiding the pit falls and hazards defined in the game. The concepts that the children use while playing the game are essentially much like the basics of programming code.
The Hopscotch App – If you children are already playing games, educational or otherwise, on the tablet or the smart phone, load this app. Children in the age group of 9 to 11 years can handle it with ease. This app allows them to create their own games using pre -set blocks of programmed code. They can make designs and games as per their own imaginations.
Lightbot – This game is available as an app and on the PC. It has two versions. The junior version is good for 4- 8 years and the second version is for 9 and above. The children learn the basic ideas of a set of instructions causing an outcome, how to use and call subroutines, how to write code efficiently by using them, and a few other fundamental concepts. Plus its designed as solving puzzles and essentially becomes a game for them to play.
Scratch Jr – This website hosts a programming language developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The visual programming language has been revised for children under the age of 8 on the junior site. Its a great way to get your younger homeschool students to learn about coding in a fun manner. It is also available as an app, should you prefer the ease of teaching them on the tablet or phone.
