Over the course of the past two weeks, Park Shore’s Kindergarten and Pre-K classes participated in Computer Science Education Week by completing an Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is a global movement created 4 years ago and is driven by the Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week Advisory and Review Committees, as well as an unprecedented coalition of partners that have come together to support the Hour of Code including Disney, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys and Girls Clubs, Mark Zukerberg, Bill Gates, just to name a few.
The movement was created to introduce children to the concept of coding and to inspire them to learn about computer science. Computer science helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity, and the general belief is that by starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path. By participating in this event, the goal was to have each child write several lines of code on their own to spark their interest in technology and computer science.
During the Computer specials sessions for Pre-K through Kindergarten, I presented a brief overview of the concept of coding and Computer Science. As a direct tie-in with our Extreme STEAM Science Kids curriculum, I explained how code is the computer language that makes things happen on the screen when they play games or use the computers and iPads, and that a programmer is the person (or people) who write the code, or set of instructions, which tells the computer what to do.
Through the code.org website and using both the SMART Board and iPads, the children wrote several lines of code using a method called Blockly, which is a visual aid that groups lines of code in blocks in order to drag and drop them to complete different programs and puzzles. I guided them through fun and exciting programs such as Angry Birds, Star Wars, Frozen and Moana. They did not play the games – the children WROTE THE CODE THAT GAVE THE COMPUTER THE INSTRUCTIONS TO MOVE THE CHARACTERS THROUGH THE GAMES!
Many local elementary, intermediate and high schools participate, however Park Shore is one of the only Preschools in the area to be part of this amazing event! Please ask your children what THEY coded in our class.
We had so much fun and I am so proud of them all! You can access the website at home, watch the introductory videos and let your children show you what great programmers they are by following the easy step-by-step instructions: https://code.org/learn
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the event or the programs on the website. It is always my pleasure and an honor to play a role in their education!
Enjoy the holiday season and best wishes for the New Year!
Much love,
Miss Samantha
Park Shore Computer Science Teacher