Join the movement and introduce a group of students to their first hour of computer science with these steps. The Hour of Code is easy to run – even for beginners! If you’d like an extra set of hands to help out, you can find a local volunteer to help run an Hour of Code in your class.
We provide a variety of fun, student-guided tutorials for all age groups and experience levels. Students do the activities on their own, though many activities include lesson plans for teachers (you’ll see the link when you click the activity) to guide discussion or extend the activity.
3. Promote your Hour of Code
Promote your Hour of Code with these tools and encourage others to host their own events.
4. Plan your technology needs – computers are optional
The best Hour of Code experience includes Internet-connected computers. But you don’t need a computer for every child, and you can even do the Hour of Code without a computer at all.
Make sure to test tutorials on student computers or devices to ensure they work properly on browsers with sound and video. Have low bandwidth? Plan to show videos at the front of the class, so each student isn’t downloading their own videos. Or try the unplugged / offline tutorials.
Provide headphones for your class, or ask students to bring their own, if the tutorial you choose works best with sound.
Don’t have enough 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.
5. Start your Hour of Code off with an inspiring speaker or video
Invite 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 through either a classroom visit or video chat with your students!
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 available)
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.
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.” – Hour of Code™ How-To, https://hourofcode.com/us/how-to
Copyright 2018 Code.org. All rights reserved. Hour of Code™ is a trademark of Code.org.
Earn Your Stripe!
Submit links to or photos of your students participating in Hour of Code™.
find bike trails
This tool allows students to use a deliberate design process for generating ideas and testing theories.
This tool allows students to understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.
This tool allows students to understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
This tool allows students to curate information from digital resources.
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If students are creating, testing, and debugging codes