Here Tory Reiss focuses on 7 new apps that are meant to teach kids about coding and how to do it.

1. 7 APPS TO HELP TEACH YOUR
KIDS CODING
By Tory Reiss

2. WHY CODING?
! Coding is everywhere and in everything
! Kids are learning to code at younger and younger
ages
! Elementary school students are beginning to code
! A whole host of new apps are being created to
help children learn how to code

3. GAMESTAR MECHANIC
! Platform: Web
! Cost: $2 per student
! Teaches kids from 7-14 to create their own video
games
! Self-pacing quests are used to teach how to build
game levels
! Focuses on critical thinking and problem solving
! Embedded with Edmodo for easy logins for
students

4. SCRATCH
! Platform: Web
! Cost: Free
! Designed by MIT students and staff specifically
for 8-16 year olds to program
! Students use bricks made of visual programming
language to animate sprite with sound, loops,
and more
! Includes teaching guides, communities, and other
resources

5. TYNKER
! Platform: Web
! Cost: Free (premium option available)
! Similar interface to Scratch but focuses on
teaching programming
! Features lesson plans, classroom management
tools, self-pacing lessons, and an online showcase
of student creations

6. MOVE THE TURTLE
! Platform: iOS (iPad and iPod)
! Cost: $2.99
! A game that teaches programming procedures
! Each new level increases difficulty and teaches a
new command
! Includes a free-play “compose” mode that allows
freedom of movement

7. HOPSCOTCH
! Platform: iPad
! Cost: Free
! Similar to Scratch and Tynker
! Uses similar controls and block-dragging format
! Controls and characters are less extensive
! Perfect for students with no prior coding
experience or interest who want to learn the
basics

8. DAISY THE DINOSAUR
! Platform: iPad
! Cost: Free
! From the makers of Hopscotch
! Aimed at the youngest coders
! Similar interface to Hopscotch but much simpler
! Only a dinosaur to move and basic functions
! Great for introducing the young to programming

9. CARGO-BOT
! Platform: iPad
! Cost: Free
! Players must program a crane to move colored
crates on each level
! Game was programmed on an iPad using a
touch-based coding app
! Great intro for text-based coding using Lua

10. MORE CODING THINGS
! Coding helps foster problem-solving and critical/
logical thinking
! Code.org is a pro-coding education nonprofit
! Features quotes from famous and important people
promoting the importance of coding in children’s
education
! Thanks to
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-apps-teaching-
children-coding-anna-adam?
utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_
campaign=blog-coding-apps-list-repost3 for
inspiring this PowerPoint

11. MARIA KLAWE, COMPUTER PROGRAMMER AND
INVENTOR
! “Coding is today's language of creativity. All our
children deserve a chance to become creators
instead of consumers of computer science”