Creating Coding Stories and Games
Deanna Pecaski McLennan, Ph.D.
@McLennan1977
www.mrsmclennan.blogspot.ca
#kindercoding
What is 21st Century Education?
What is Coding?
Coding (or programming) is a basic language of the digital age. It involves the process of creating step-by-step instructions a computer understands and needs in order for its programs to work. Gaming systems, tablets, cars, cell phones—even washing machines!—all use coding to function properly.
The Importance of Giving Good Directions!
Why Spatial Reason?
Coding stories and games:
*use math concepts and language
*build spatial awareness and logic
*encourage problem solving
*strengthen communication
*promote literacy
*encourage turn-taking and perseverance
Coding Terminology
Code: A set of instructions for a computer
Coding: The process of creating step-by-step instructions a computer understand and needs in order for its programs to work.
Precoding activities: Developmentally appropriate games and activities in which children explore some of the concepts involved in coding in ways that are meaningful to them.
Coding Prerequisites
Children should be able to:
*count ordinally
*understand one to one correspondence
*understand directions (up, down, right, left)
*be able to communicate and receive instructions
Introducing Coding to Kids...
What is an algorithm?
What is coding?
Texts to inspire….
Kids Get Coding Series
Sparks that Lead to Coding
*children show interest in movement
*children show interest in maps and grids
*children enjoy games
*children are eager for challenges
*children enjoy STEAM activities
Coding and the Four Frames
Coding Materials Needed
Unplugged Coding Activities
First...set up the grid and gather the corresponding props!
Then...establish the commands!
Next...choose a programmer and a gamer!
Finally...code the story!
Let’s Play - The Amazing Algorithms Game!
Starting small…
...with an obstacle course
Then adding barriers!
Coding and Story Retell
Can you help the Gingerbread Man escape?
Incorporating Children’s Interests
*dinosaurs
*cars
*animals
*dolls
*photo blocks
*favourite characters
Can you escape the T-Rex while avoiding the obstacles?
Coding and Magformers
Treasure Hunt Coding
Roll and Race Coding Games
Moving Coding Outdoors
Large Coding Dice
Coding in the Gym
Teacher Resource
Pathway Moves
Using a child-sized 10-frame, students
get a 3D, full-body orientation and
mapping experience. One student helps
another student get from the starting
point to the end point on the grid giving
oral pathway directions.
Curriculum Connection - Math - Spatial Reasoning
Pathway Moves - Extension Activities
Curriculum Connection - Social Studies
Local Community - Mapping + Coding!
All you need is a grid board, direction cards and community cards (we made ours!).
Community Cards
Next Steps - Patterns and Looping
Connecting with Families
Take 5!
Mini Coding Dice
How might you use these in your classroom?
Coding and the Communication of Learning
Pearl enjoys playing number games and easily subitizes using dice, tallies and dominoes. She is an active participant in our daily number talks and uses advanced strategies for calculating how many children have come to school that day using our ten frame ‘sign in’ system. Pearl will often explain her calculations using language such as “I counted up from 10.” or “If you add 2 to the 8 in the first ten frame you can make a group of 10 and then just add 4 more to have 14.” She excelled at our coding activities earlier in the fall and was instrumental in helping spark an interest in and excitement for these experiences in our whole group meetings. Pearl uses directional language successfully when communicating instructions to her peers and was able to move her partner accurately around the coding grid. She enjoys retelling familiar stories using coding as a literacy tool (e.g., helping the Gingerbread Man escape the fox in our story retell) and uses her imagination to make up her own coding stories (e.g., taking an adventurous path to school that avoids volcanoes and hot lava). I will continue to encourage Pearl’s active involvement in math experiences and encourage her to use her knowledge of coding directions to begin programming more advanced technology such as the
Scratch Jr. app on the iPad and Scratch website.
Learning Resources
Fisher Price
‘Code-a-pillar’
Learning Resources
‘Code & Go Robot Mouse’
http://bit.ly/1VTGKSU
Coding with Dash
Bee Bot
Code.org
Scratch Jr.
Scratch
Kodable
45 free coding puzzles with lessons
Hour of Code 2018
December 3rd through 9th
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts.
Every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science. It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path.
www.hourofcode.com
Let’s put it together!
Each group has a different read aloud. Spend some time
exploring the text and planning for how it might be used to
inspire a coding activity in a kindergarten classroom.
Plan for the activity - duration, materials, curriculum and assessment links, activities, etc. and use the materials provided on your table in order to help share your thinking.
We’ll reconnect after 15 minutes and each group will have a chance to share their activity! Let’s leave this workshop with many coding ideas for easy implementation upon your return to your classrooms!
https://www.ontario.ca/document/kindergarten-program-2016
Code and keep connected!
#kindercoding
@Freeman_Gr1 @McLennan1977