So what did you do this weekend? I made a coding bulletin board! Here is what I made…feel free to steal and use!
I used index cards to make the actions, cues, and obstacles. The, I used construction paper to make characters and rewards. On Word I created a grid to draw the game board. Students can either create the code and have others draw the board, or draw a board and have others create the code. We will start with this pre-made board and move to a more open board.
I saw a lesson where a teacher had the actions and codes from Scratch, Jr or Daisy the Dinosaur printed out and used those to introduce the coding unit. And of course when I tried to find it again…no where could I locate it…so it led to this creation.
The boards I pre-made include one with a cat, mouse, dog, and cheese. Kids can decide the mission and set the code for their choice. There is also a pre-made board with a “Pac-Man” type game.
My first and second graders are playing The Foos, Daisy the Dinosaur, and BeeBot to introduce coding. This board will come in to play with that unit and as a fun time for all students who come in to the media center for class and for free time fun!
So how can you use CODING in the classroom if you aren’t a Tech teacher? So glad you asked!
With Scratch, Jr you can create stories using code. You can add background, actions, characters, and more. Imagine having students create the illustrations first, then write the story. If you are studying countries, create a story about the country using a coding program. You can use it just like you would a poster activity, but instead it integrates technology and coding! Fun, educational, and 21st century skills!