Five coding sites for kids

Five sites to get kids coding. While I recommend that kids start coding with Scratch, each of these sites are great introductions to programming for younger kids.  #codingforkids

1. Blockly Games

Blocky features a series of puzzles that all require some coding skill to be solved.  Skills covered include repetition, conditions, iteration and parameter passing.  The puzzles include guiding a bird to pick up a worm so she can feed her nest; guiding an astronaut through a space maze; and shooting targets in a pond.

This puzzle soon gets more tricky with targets requiring more than one shot to kill. Time to learn a repeat loop.

Blockly is a Google project aimed at introducing programming concepts and are quite self-pacing.  By the end of the course, kids are writing real lines of JavaScript code.


2. Code Studio

Code Studio from Code.org contains many hours of Computing Science fun for kids and adults aged four and above.  The concept is similar to Blockly Games above, and covers many similar concepts.  Students can work trough a series of games at their own pace with each concept introduced by a relevant video and reinforced with multiple choice questions at the end.  This is an ideal site for getting girls coding before they hit puberty (and social pressures start to rule their lives).

Concepts are reinforced with a multiple choice quiz after each challenge.

Various different themed challenges from helping an 'Angry bird' through a maze to collecting pollen and nectar as a busy bee.

There is also a Spelling Bee section - get it! Use your coding skills to spell the correct word.

Some key programming concepts such as repetition are brought to life.

A really nice looking interface and those creatures look like they are from 'Angry Birds'.

It's not just solving mazes, you can also draw pictures and make stories.  Children exposed to Code Studio will be ready for Scratch within a couple of hours.

3. Code Combat

Code Combat is a great site for getting kids coding, while aimed at older kids than Blockly and Code Studio above, it is a useful experience for kids before they are exposed to traditional written languages.  I did a couple of blog posts about Code Combat a few months ago.

Learn some programming basics whilst playing an adventure game.

One of my students managed to complete all the levels in Code Combat and has now taken GCSE Computing and is doing well learning some Python and JavaScript.


4. PoopScoop

Shameless plug alert!  PoopScoop is one of my own creations.  It is a puzzle game for Windows in which you use programming statements to solve each maze.  The aim of each level is to find and 'scoop' each 'poop' that some thoughless animal has left lying around. There are pits to jump over, walls to push over, blocks to push, magnets to avoid and pools of water to drain.  If the thought of scooping poop gets your students a little giddy then there is a slightly tamer - LitterPik - version instead.

There is also a level designer so kids can create their own puzzles.

Search this blog for PoopScoop

Introducing PoopScoop for Windows.

5. Shapes

Shapes is a programming language designed to get kids interested in programming through drawing colourful images. The language is simply defined using geometric shapes: circle, square, triangle, ellipse, line etc and a coordinate system that uses both relative and absolute coordinates.  If you remember the various incarnations of the language LOGO, then you will recognise Shapes - only Shapes is much easier to start drawing interesting images.  The installation package comes with a user guide for teachers and I have plenty of example code should you need it.

An image programming using the SHAPES language.

Shapes would be useful both to teach programming concepts as well as in mathematics to teach about coordinate systems.  I would be very interested to hear from Mathematicians who have used it in their lessons.

You can download Shapes from this website.  Shapes was written by T Street the author of this blog.

If you made it this far, then you might like to search this blog for other interesting posts:

Circles - a tool for teaching mathematics
The Little Man Computer - for teaching GCSE and A level Computer Science "Low Level Programming"
Goliath - a text adventure game ripe for hacking

#edtech
#codinginschools

Quartermaster

Continuing our series on PoopScoop solutions, here we look at the "Quatermaster" level (I am sure I meant "Quartermaster", but unfortunately my spelling is atrocious)

The pits of nothingness are very useful to you on this level.  Start by clearing a path to the upper left corner of the map, pushing obstacles into the pits as you go.  Then pull the blocks away so you can push one block onto the buttons.  Once the button is pressed a new way opens up and scooping the poop becomes trivial.

Solution:

reverse 1
left
forward 1
jump
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
forward 1
right
}
end
push
left
forward 1
drain
forward 1
dig
forward 2
//repeat loop
repeat 5
{
pull
}
end
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     forward 1
     right 
}
end
push
left 
forward 7
//repeat loop
repeat 8
{
     pull
}
end
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     forward 1
     right 
}
end
push
left 
forward 8
//repeat loop
repeat 9
{
     pull
}
end
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     forward 1
     right 
}
end
push
left 
forward 9
//repeat loop
repeat 10
{
     pull
}
end
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     forward 1
     right 
}
end
push
left 
forward 8
right 
push
reverse 1
left 
forward 2
right 
pull
right 
forward 1
left 
forward 1
right 
forward 1
left 
forward 1
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     push
}
end
right 
//repeat loop
repeat 4
{
     push
}
end
right
forward 1
left
push
right
forward 2
left
forward 1
left
push
reverse 2
flip
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     pull
}
end
jump 
flip
push
push
reverse 3
flip
dig
drain
forward 2
//repeat loop
repeat 6
{
     pull
}
end
right 
forward 1
left 
forward 2
left 
forward 1
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     push
}
end
reverse 7
flip
//repeat loop
repeat 7
{
     pull
}
end
right 
forward 1
left 
forward 2
left 
forward 1
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     push
}
end
reverse 8
flip
//repeat loop
repeat 8
{
     pull
}
end
right 
forward 1
left 
forward 2
left 
forward 1
left 
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     push
}
end
reverse 9
flip
//repeat loop
repeat 9
{
     pull
}
end
left 
forward 1
right 
forward 2
right 
forward 1
left 
forward 8
right 
push
reverse 1
right 
forward 3
left 
drain
forward 2
right 
forward 4
dig
right 
dig
reverse 2
flip
//repeat loop
repeat 3
{
     pull
}
end
left 
forward 4
right 
forward 2
right 
forward 4
left 
forward 2
right 
forward 1
left 
scoop
forward 1
scoop

What's in the sideboard?

The third installment in our series on PoopScoop solutions.  This time the level is "What's in the sideboard?".

Another level where it is all about preparation.  The blocks on the right hand side must be moved one-at-a-time to clear a route through to the poop, but first you need to prepare your escape route.

Solution:

right
dig
pull
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     jump
}
end

right
push
left
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     push
}
end

right
push
reverse 1
right
forward 2
right
forward 1
left
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     jump
}
end

forward 1
left
forward 4
right
forward 2
right
pull
reverse 1
right
forward 4
jump
left
jump
right
jump
left
jump
forward 1
left
forward 2
right
forward 1
left
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     jump
}
end
left
forward 4
right
forward 1
push
right
forward 1
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     pull
}
end

reverse 1
right
forward 4
jump
left
jump
right
jump
left
jump
forward 1
left
forward 2
right
forward 1
left
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     jump
}
end
left
forward 4
right
forward 1
push
right
forward 2
//repeat loop
repeat 3
{
     pull
}
end

reverse 1
right
forward 4
jump
left
jump
right
jump
left
jump
forward 1
left
forward 2
right
forward 1
left
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     jump
}
end
left
forward 4
right
forward 1
push
right
forward 3
push
left
forward 2
right
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     forward 1
     scoop
}
end

Eugene's lair

Introducing another PoopScoop solution.  This time "Eugene's Lair".

The trick to solving Eugene's Lair is to prepare your route through so you can push one of the blocks onto the green button.  Once the button is pressed new platforms rise up and the solution becomes trivial.

Solution:

forward 2
left
forward 2
left
forward 1
right
forward 1
left
forward 1
dig
dig
jump
forward 3
left
forward 2
right
forward 1
pull
left
reverse 2
left
forward 3
jump
forward 3
right
forward 1
left
forward 1
right
forward 2
right
forward 4
left
forward 2
left
pull
pull
left
forward 2
right
forward 2
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
right
forward 2
right
dig
pull
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
left
reverse 2
left
forward 4
right
forward 3
jump
forward 1
right
forward 4
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
    jump
    right
    forward 1
    pull
    left
}
end
jump
forward 2
right
forward 2
left
forward 1
right
forward 3
right
forward 1
drain
forward 1
right
dig
dig
flip
forward 2
pull
pull
right
dig
right
dig
left
dig
//repeat loop
repeat 2
{
     forward 1
     dig
}
end
forward 1
left
forward 4
right
forward 4
right
forward 3
jump
forward 1
right
forward 4
//repeat loop
repeat 3
{
     jump
}
end
forward 2
right
forward 2
left
forward 1
right
forward 3
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
left
push
right
forward 2
left
forward 1
scoop
reverse 4
left
forward 5
scoop
left
forward 1
scoop

Ghost in the machine

Introducing the solution to one of the most difficult puzzles on 'PoopScoop'.

Ghost in the machine initial situation.  Your job, scoop the four poops, but first you must move the crates out of the way.

right
forward 2
right
forward 2
left
forward 4
push
flip
jump
forward 3
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
right
pull
reverse 1
left
forward 3
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
jump
forward 2
right
forward 3
jump
forward 2
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
left
forward 1
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
left
pull
reverse 1
left
jump
forward 3
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
right
forward 1
pull
pull
reverse 1
left
forward 3
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
jump
forward 2
right
forward 3
jump
forward 2
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
left
forward 1
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
left
forward 1
pull
pull
reverse 1
left
jump
forward 3
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
right
forward 2
//repeat loop
repeat 3
{
     pull
}
end
reverse 1
left
forward 3
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
jump
forward 2
right
forward 3
jump
forward 2
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
left
forward 1
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
left
forward 2
//repeat loop
repeat 3
{
     pull
}
end
reverse 1
left
jump
forward 3
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
right
forward 3
//repeat loop
repeat 4
{
     pull
}
end
reverse 1
left
forward 3
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
jump
forward 2
right
forward 3
jump
forward 2
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
left
forward 1
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
left
forward 3
//repeat loop
repeat 4
{
     pull
}
end
reverse 1
left
jump
forward 3
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
right
forward 4
right
forward 1
scoop
reverse 2
scoop
forward 1
left
reverse 6
left
forward 3
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
jump
forward 2
right
forward 3
jump
forward 2
right
forward 1
jump
forward 1
left
forward 1
right
forward 2
left
forward 2
push
left
forward 4
left
forward 1
scoop
reverse 2
scoop

Kids playtest LitterPik

LitterPik - a simple programming puzzle game from superdecade games.

LitterPik and PoopScoop are two programming games designed to introduce kids to the basics of programming.  In order to solve each level you must give Robot a list of commands (a computer program) which he will faithfully execute.  Each level involves differing amounts of jumping, rotating, pushing and pulling obstacles, as well as negotiating magnets and deadly pools of water.  There is even a level designer.

Here are some nice things said about LitterPik and PoopScoop by some 7 and 8-year-old children:

Head over to the PoopScoop and LitterPik pages now.

PoopScoop Buttons!

Check out the PoopScoop pages for the latest updated version of PoopScoop - version 1.01f

What's new?

Beta version of PoopScoop released!

PoopScoop is a simple puzzle game for Windows.  You must attempt to program the Robot to clear all levels using a limited set of commands.  The aim of the game is to 'scoop' all the 'poop' before your power runs out, without falling into the void, the pools or the magnets.

Follow this link for the download page.

PoopScoop is indended to be an educational game for all ages, but I would be interested in hearing from educators using it in the classroom.  Constructive feedback will encourage me to expand the game.