The Hour of Code is a month away and we’re excited to announce 115 brand-new tutorials and lesson plans! Many activities were created to support various classroom models, from fully remote, to hybrid, to in-person learning. There is something for everyone—and every classroom—this year!
Introducing CodeBytes: New mini-lessons for virtual classrooms
We hope everyone can join us this year for CodeBytes, our brand new series of easy-to-digest, 20 minute interactive lessons will stream twice daily during Computer Science Education Week, Monday through Friday, December 7–11. If you’re planning for a classroom that’s gone fully virtual, CodeBytes are designed to fit smoothly into a distance learning plan.
Whether students have a computer or a smartphone, they can interact with and tune-in to every episode. Plus, episodes are tailored to grade levels ranging from K-12. Every lesson is hosted by Code.org staff and blends computer science with real-world topics, including artificial intelligence and #CSforGood.
Take a look at our planned activities, and add your favorites to your calendar so you don’t miss out. We hope you can join us!
Explore endless computer science topics with brand-new tutorials
This year’s activities dive into tons of different CS topics like AI, data processing, and app & game design, as well as programming concepts like events, loops, and variables!
Students can explore the oceans with SciGirls, learn to code and meditate with CodeSpeak Labs, build a climate clock with Vidcode, or try out another of the 30+ new #CSforGood themed activities and lesson plans! See them all at hourofcode.com/learn.
Here are some of our reviewers’ favorite new tutorials:
Play, Design & Code Retro Arcade Games (Microsoft)
Play fun arcade games, design your own sprites, and learn the basics of coding your own game with MakeCode Arcade. Great for grades 2 and up.
CS First Unplugged with Google
Try the CS First Unplugged activities to explore how computer science can solve problems like helping people stay connected while apart. “Plugged in” Scratch activities are available too! Great for grades 2–8.
Ozaria: Your Journey Begins (CodeCombat)
Enter the world of Ozaria where you become a hero in an epic adventure. Along the way, you’ll meet interesting characters and travel to different lands, practicing coding concepts like sequences, loops, debugging, and decomposition. In the end, you’ll design a playable game that you can share with your friends! Great for grades 5 and up.
Climate Clock with Vidcode
In this Hour of Code activity, students engage with objects, properties, variables, functions, and loops, to build their own climate countdown clock and convey their message for the world and their hopes for the future. Great for grades 6 and up.
Discover Python with Silent Teacher (Toxicode)
Discover the basics of Python without any word or explanation. Our silent teacher will give you several series of challenges that will lead you to guess some rules and learn from your own mistakes. Great for grades 6 and up.
No computer? No problem. Unplugged resources for students.
Every student deserves to learn computer science regardless of what technology they have at home. A number of engaging new unplugged options from our partners at Google, Kodable, iRobot, and elsewhere are available to learners with low or no connectivity or limited device access.
We’ve also created a printable Hour of Code Unplugged Activity Packet for ages 4–18. Please include these resources in your next communication to parents and caretakers so that your students can still join this global event.
Find a remote volunteer for your Hour of Code
To make this year’s event even more engaging for students, try inviting a volunteer to speak to your classroom! Many volunteers* are eager to help in person or virtually and are also CS professionals who can speak about their career path.
Whether your students are learning in-person, at home, or a hybrid of both, we hope that these resources can make it simpler than ever to bring an Hour of Code to students of all ages. However you choose to participate, we can’t thank you enough for your effort and support.
-Hadi Partovi, Code.org
*Please note that Code.org is not responsible for individuals who sign-up to volunteer
