December 5th-11th

Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Teachers

Sign up at Code.org

Step 1: Watch this How-To Video for teachers:

Step 2: Choose a tutorial for your hour

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Student-guided Hour of Code tutorials:

• Require minimal prep-time for teachers
• Are self-guided - allowing students to work at their own pace and skill-level

Teacher-guided Hour of Code tutorials:

• Are lesson plans that require some advance teacher preparation
• Are categorized by grade level and by subject area (eg Math, English, etc)

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Step 3: Promote your HOur of Code

Promote your Hour of Code with these tools and encourage others to host the event with you.

Step 4: Plan your Technology Needs - Computers are Optional!

Plan Ahead! Do the following before your event starts:

• Test tutorials on student computers or devices. Make sure they work properly on browsers with sound and video.
• Provide headphones for your class, or ask students to bring their own, if the tutorial you choose works best with sound.
• Students without devices? Use pair programming. When students partner up, they help each other and rely less on the teacher. They’ll also see that computer science is social and collaborative.
• Want to code without devices? Try the unplugged/offline tutorials.

Step 5: Kick off your Hour of Code

Invite or video chat with a local volunteer to inspire your students by talking about the breadth of possibilities in computer science. There are thousands of volunteers around the world ready to help with your Hour of Code. Use this map to find local volunteers who can visit your classroom or join a video chat with your students.

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Show an inspirational video:

• The original Code.org launch video, featuring Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and NBA star Chris Bosh (There are 1-minute, 5- minute, and 9-minute versions)
• The Hour of Code 2013 launch video, or the Hour of Code 2015 video
• President Obama calling on all students to learn computer science
• Find more inspirational resources and videos.

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It’s okay if both you and your students are brand new to computer science. Here are some ideas to introduce your Hour of Code activity:

• Explain ways that technology impacts our lives, with examples both boys and girls will care about (Talk about saving lives, helping people, connecting people, etc.).
• As a class, list things that use code in everyday life.
• See tips for getting girls interested in computer science here.

Need more guidance? Download this template lesson plan.

Want more teaching ideas? Check out best practices from experienced educators.

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NEW TO CODING? NO PROBLEM!

STEP 6: Start Coding

Direct students to the activity

• Write the tutorial link on a whiteboard. Find the link listed on the information for your selected tutorial under the number of participants.

When your students come across difficulties it's okay to respond:

• “I don’t know. Let’s figure this out together.”
• “Technology doesn’t always work out the way we want.”
• “Learning to program is like learning a new language; you won’t be fluent right away.”

Check out these teaching tips

What to do if a student finishes early?

• Students can see all tutorials and try another Hour of Code activity at code.org/learn
• Or, ask students who finish early to help classmates who are having trouble with the activity.

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STEP 7: CELEBRATE!

• Print certificates for your students.
• Print "I did an Hour of Code!" stickers for your students.
• Order custom t-shirts for your school.
• Share photos and videos of your Hour of Code event on social media. Use #HourOfCode and @codeorg so we can highlight your success, too!

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Other Hour of Code resources for educators:

• Use this template lesson plan to organize your Hour of Code.
• Check out best practices from past Hour of Code teachers.
• Watch the recording of our Educator's Guide to the Hour of Code webinar.
• Attend a live Q&A with our founder, Hadi Partovi to prepare for the Hour of Code.
• Visit the Hour of Code Teacher Forum to get advice, insight and support from other educators.
• Review the Hour of Code FAQ.

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What comes after the Hour of Code?

The Hour of Code is just the first step on a journey to learn more about how technology works and how to create software applications. To continue this journey:

• Encourage students to continue to learn online.
• Attend a 1-day, in-person workshop to receive instruction from an experienced computer science facilitator.