During the month of December, our Kindergarten–Grade 4 students explored the exciting world of coding! Through hands-on activities, students were introduced to basic coding concepts by Miss Keller, Thacher's Instructional Technology Coach. These lessons supported the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards by developing students’ understanding of Computing Systems and Computational Thinking. During these lessons, students learned that coding is a way to give clear, step-by-step directions to a computer in a language the computer understands. They practiced putting steps in the correct order, repeating actions, and making changes when something didn’t work as planned. Students learned that mistakes—called “bugs”—are a normal part of coding, and they practiced debugging their programs to make improvements.
The following week, students applied these coding skills by participating in the Hour of Code. Using the same concepts they had practiced as a class, students solved new challenges and coded characters independently through a variety of interactive activities. As the levels increased, so did the computational thinking skills. Certificates of completion were awarded to all participating students.
During the third week, students brought their learning to life by coding physical robots to complete tasks. Students in Grades 2–4 used a block-based programming language called Blockly to code Dash robots to travel winding driveways and deliver packages to houses in a neighborhood. Once the robot reached the door, it was programmed to ring the doorbell and notify the customer of the delivery. Kindergarten and Grade 1 students programmed Bee-Bot robots to collect materials needed to build a snowman or construct a gingerbread house. These experiences helped students see how coding skills can transfer to new tools and situations, while building confidence and strengthening problem-solving skills.
December’s coding experiences gave students the opportunity to explore, create, and think critically while having fun. We are proud of their curiosity, perseverance, and willingness to try new challenges, and we look forward to building on these skills throughout the school year. If you're child has expressed an interest to continue coding at home, check out The Hour of Code activities on the web.
'25 Hour of Code.pdf
Sincerely,
Jennifer Keller
Instructional Technology Coach
