By Alison Dorf
Kids 5-8 years old can learn coding concepts as they create their very own interactive stories and games using PBS KIDS characters like Wild Kratts, WordGirl, Peg + Cat and Nature Cat! Anyone can start their own coding project with no experience required.
By snapping together colorful programming blocks, children can make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. In this process, kids will learn to solve problems, design new projects and express themselves creatively. Students will explore computational thinking concepts such as analyzing problems, understanding cause and effect, and recognizing patterns and sequences. They will also be encouraged to use design-based habits of mind: playing, planning, testing, iterating, sharing and reflecting on their work.
Children don’t just learn to code, they code to learn. Join in on the fun and explore how to create your own story through code with your class! Download this activity worksheet to get started.
PBS KIDS ScratchJr is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablet.
Happy Coding!
This article was originally published on PBS SoCal’s At-Home Learning initiative.
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