S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
By incorporating hands-on activities into our children’s curriculum, it will help them to improve skills like:
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Independent Thinking
Brainstorming
Problem-solving
Teamwork
This week, kids everywhere will participate in the Hour of Code! It happens during Computer Science Education Week (CSEd Week)—a special time to ignite excitement about computer science! Four years after CSEd Week was established, a dedicated website was launched to make coding fun and accessible, encouraging everyone to join in and explore!
What is Code.org?
Code.org was started by Hadi Partovi, who wanted to impact the world positively. That’s when Code.org was born! The website allows students to:
- Learn coding at any age (even pre-readers!).
- Explore and be creative while teaching them essential programming principles.
- Play educational games with their favorite characters from movies, games, and apps.
- Participate in fun tutorials that make learning to code easy and exciting.
Computer science can ignite creativity and unlock countless opportunities. It has created pathways for students who might not otherwise have access to learning about computers and technology. Every child deserves the chance to develop these skills and explore new possibilities!
Why Was This Week Chosen?
The dates decided to hold CSED week were in recognition of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper’s birthday (December 9, 1906). Hopper was an American computer scientist and a United States Rear Admiral.
Achievements
- Worked on the Mark I, a computer used in the war effort in the last part of WWII
- One of the first programmers to invent a program that converted English terms into machine code
- Awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1991
- She was awarded the National Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian award in the U.S.) after she died in 1992.
She was also the first person to coin the term “bug” as it relates to glitches in a computer when a dead moth was found in one!
Coding has evolved through the years!
Programming then:
Programming now:
Our children do not need a computer to learn how to code. Below is a list of “unplugged” activities from Code.org that allow students to step away from the screen and sharpen their computer programming skills!
While your children may not be familiar with the term conditionals, they can use it to ensure that things happen at the right time.
Materials: Deck of playing cards, Pencil and paper
Students practice using algorithms to explain how to play a game of dice!
Materials: Pair of Dice, Paper and Pencil
Students code their names using binary code to create a fun bracelet!
Materials: wooden beads, string or jewelry wire, jewelry clasps
Create a binary alphabet to encode an image their partner can decode!
Materials: A pencil or colored pencil, Worksheet provided on the website
For more “unplugged” activities, visit Code.org or Hour of Code.com!
The “Hour of Code” is a global event celebrated annually by students and teachers in over 180 countries. However, the learning doesn’t need to stop there. Code.org offers resources that can be used year-round, in the classroom and at home, empowering students to continue exploring and developing their coding skills anytime.
#STEAM is our Approach
#LEARNING is our Goal
We are Bright & Smart!