A version of this post promoting summer coding and making activities originally appeared on Iowa Tech Chicks with additional Iowa City/Cedar Rapids-specific information.
Coding
- Code.org: Short Hour of Code activities to longer multipart courses. Start by building snowflakes with Elsa and Anna from Frozen and work up to learning JavaScript and creating phone apps.
- CodeAcademy: started with basic web development courses, adding new languages all the time. Requires good reading skills.
- Code Combat: Learn to code by playing a game
- Code School: many languages, combination of video and written tutorials. Most introductory courses are free, intermediate and advanced courses often require payment
- Computer Science Unplugged: learn logic through group activities that do not require computers
- Hackety Hack: Ruby, Introduction to Programming
- Made with Code: Coding projects use Blockly, a visual programming language and most incorporate music or art.
- Scratch: LearnScratch.org (a visual programming language)
Coding Apps
Many have added web-based activities and curriculum
STEM & Maker Movement Projects
Tutorials
- Four Ways to Introduce Kids to Electronics (diy.org)
- Geek Gurl Diaries: Video tutorials by Carrie Anne Philbin
- Instructables: wealth of projects from simple to complex, crafts to hardware. Teens like Quinn with his kayak have been featured on the site.
- Little Bits Projects
- Pinterest: Some notable boards: Maker Ed, School Library Journal’s STEAM Board, Tinkering Fun
- Science Experiments for Kids
- Science Buddies: Resources such as Bot Building for Kids and Their Parents
- Science Sparks: preschool-early elementary
- Short Circuit Curriculum Guide
- Ten Beginner Arduino Projects
Online Maker Camps
DIY Camps: Paid 4-week online camps including daily activities. Examples include LEGO Master Camp, Minecraft Architecture Camp and Music Inventor Camp.
MakerCamp: July 6-August 14: Six weeks of themed maker projects from Make Magazine.
Area Activities
CoderDojo: an international coding for kids movement with area chapters. Check coderdojo.com for the chapter closest to you.
Public Libraries: Many have including making and coding programs in their Children’s and Teen Summer Reading Programs this year. These are a great way to experiment with some of the pricier electronic maker toys such as Cubelets, Little Bits, and Makey Makey. Maker Jawn Curriculum and Show Me Librarian are great places to start if you are wanting to ramp up maker programming in your library.