The event took place during Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 4 through Dec. 10
Students at Birches Elementary School are getting a head start on being computer programmers this week. The first- through fifth-graders are taking part in the worldwide “Hour of Code” event as a way of honoring Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 4 through Dec. 10.
Computers teacher Nicole Strate plotted out different coding activities based on their grade and comfort levels. Some activities were basic, while others had the junior programmers really delving into code. First grade worked on an Angry Birds theme; second grade coded Moana; third-graders created Minecraft worlds; and fourth-graders coded a Star Wars theme. Fifth-graders had the option to pick any of a number of different coding activities.
On Tuesday, the fourth-graders flooded the computer lab and worked on creating several different scenes of a Star Wars game. In the scenes, they were able to use code to make characters do everything from walk quickly, capture rebel forces, defeat storm troopers, change identities and more. Then, first-graders practiced for coding by completing puzzles before working on an Angry Birds activity.
The Hour of Code — the largest learning event in history — takes place during Computer Science Education Week each year. More than 100 million students worldwide already have tried an Hour of Code. More information on the Hour of Code effort can be found at www.hourofcode.com/us.
