61 K-8 Hour of Code Suggestions–by Grade Level

Here are ideas of apps and websites that teachers in my PLN used successfully in the past during Hour of Code:

Kindergarten

Start kindergartners with problem solving. If they love Legos, they’ll love coding

1. BotLogic–great for Kindergarten and youngers
2. Code–learn to code, for students
3. Daisy the Dinosaur—intro to programming via iPad
4. How to train your robot–a lesson plan from Dr. Techniko
5. Kodable--great for youngers–learn to code before you can read
6. Move the Turtle–programming via iPad for middle school
7. Primo–a wooden game, for ages 4-7
8. Program a human robot (unplugged)
9. Scratch Jr.

1st Grade

1. Code–learn to code, for students
2. Hopscotch–programming on the iPad
3. Primo–a wooden game, for ages 4-7
4. Scratch Jr.
5. Tynker

2nd Grade

1. Code–learn to code, for students
2. Google Spreadsheets–decode and fill in color coded pictures (like the popular gingerbread house, penguinpicture, or shapes and pictures)
3. Hopscotch–programming on the iPad
4. Tynker

3rd Grade

1. Blockly
2. Build with Chrome–kind of like Minecraft, more like Google Earth Warehouse; use virtual Lego blocks to build in your browser
3. Minecraft

4th Grade

1. Build with Chrome–kind of like Minecraft, more like Google Earth Warehouse; use virtual Lego blocks to build in your browser
2. Khan Academy Computer Science
3. Minecraft
4. Robotics
5. Scratch
6. Snap!—runs in your browser

5th Grade

1. Build with Chrome–kind of like Minecraft, more like Google Earth Warehouse; use virtual Lego blocks to build in your browser
2. Google Spreadsheets–code the spreadsheet with color that will reveal a secret picture
3. Khan Academy Computer Science
4. Lego Digital Designer
5. Minecraft
6. Robotics
7. Scratch
8. Snap!—runs in your browser
9. Tinkercad–3D modeling–fee–perfect for 3D printing
10. Windows Property menu–create a shortkey for any Windows tool through properties. Here’s a how-to for one example
11. Wolfram Alpha widgets

Middle School

1. Auto Hotkey–free–simple shortkey programming for students; requires download
2. Build with Chrome–kind of like Minecraft, more like Google Earth Warehouse; use virtual Lego blocks to build in your browser
3. Code Avengers
4. Code Monster
5. Gamestar Mechanic–design video games
6. Hakitzu–learning through games
7. Khan Academy Computer Science
8. Looking Glass—animated story–offshoot of Alice
9. Minecraft
10. Notepad–coding using the Windows Notepad
11. Python
12. Robotics–using NXT and Lego Mindstorm
13. Scratch–here’s a Scratch tutorial for Hour of Code. Find the facilitator’s guide here and the self-guided tutorial here.
14. Snap!—runs in your browser
15. Tinkercad–3D modeling–fee–perfect for 3D printing
16. Windows Property menu–create a shortkey for any Windows tool through properties. Here’s a how-to.
17. Wolfram Alpha widgets

Here are general ideas. See what fits best for your grade levels:

1. American Computer Science League–competitions for junior and senior high
2. Chrome Experiments–geeky experimentation with programming
3. I like programming video
4. Kodu—game programming
5. Learn to code
6. Robby Leonardi–programmer–a game played about programming in the style of Mario

More ideas? Check Cybraryman’s Programming Page and see what Kent ISD is doing that week. Or, try this series of Hour of Code lesson plans for K-8.

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-8 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice reviewer, CAEP reviewer, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today and TeachHUB, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

updated 12-23-18