An introduction to coding for kids
Coding know-how is the coolest new tool kids can add to their creativity toolboxes—and all they need to get started is a computer connected to the internet and the lessons in this book. Easy!
The book offers fun step-by-step projects to create games, animations, and other digital toys while teaching a bit about coding along the way. Plus, each project has an end goal to instill confidence and a sense of accomplishment in young coders once the project comes to life.
- Create simple applications in Scratch to learn how to build things with coding
- Experiment with “real” coding with tools built in JavaScript
- Use free online tools
- Share what you build with friends, family, and teachers
Get creative and get coding!
Table of Contents:
Introduction 2
About This Book 2
What's New in the Second Edition 4
About You 5
About the Icons 6
Project 1: Get Started 7
Coding QuickStart 7
A Hello World! example 8
What's an algorithm? 9
Sequence, selection, and repetition .10
Flowcharting 11
Picking a Language 12
Using a Dashboard (IDE) 13
Setting Up Your Account in Scratch 14
Getting Around in Scratch 15
Using the Code Tab in Scratch 18
Getting Around in MakeCode 20
Using the Code Toolbox in MakeCode 23
Fixing Errors 24
Debugging in Scratch .25
Debugging in MakeCode .27
Getting Help 28
Project 2: Jungle Chat 29
Brainstorm 30
Flowchart 30
Start a New Project 31
Add a Backdrop 32
Add Animal Sprites 33
Add Text-to-Speech Commands 36
Code the Monkey to Run When Clicked 36
Code the Monkey to Ask the User’s Name 38
Make and Give the Greeting 39
Code the Monkey to Play a Sound 40
Code the Snake to Play a Sound You Record 41
Code the Toucan to Play a Sound from the
Sound Library 43
Enhance Your Scene 45
Save, Test, and Debug Your Program 46
Share Your Program with the World 46
Big Ideas in the Project 46
Project 3: Freeze the Pops 48
Brainstorm 49
Flowchart 49
Start a New Project 51
Make a Variable 52
Code Button A to Measure and Show
the Temperature 53
Continue Coding Button A to Show If the
Pops Are Frozen 56
Save, Test, and Debug Your Program 59
Transfer Your Program to the micro:bit 60
Put Your micro:bit in the Freezer 60
Enhance Your Gadget 61
Big Ideas in the Project 62
Project 4: Jellyfi sh Jumble 64
Brainstorm 65
Flowcharts 65
Start a New Project 67
Add a Backdrop 67
Add a Jellyfi sh Sprite and Custom Costumes 68
Make a Mr Jelly Sprite and a Fake Sprite 70
Code the Green Flag Blocks 73
Background .73
Mr Jelly .74
Fake and the fakers .75
Code the Faker Clones to Swish 77
Code Mr Jelly to Know He’s Been Found 78
Enhance Your Scene 79
Save, Test, and Debug Your Program 81
Share Your Program with the World 81
Big Ideas in the Project 81
Project 5: Card War 83
Brainstorm 84
Flowcharts 84
Start a New Project 85
Make a Variable 87
Code on shake to Make and Send Your Number 88
Code an on radio received Block to Identify a Winner 90
Save, Test, and Debug Your Program 97
Transfer Your Program to the micro:bit 99
Enhance Your Gadget 99
Big Ideas in the Project 100
Project 6: Avoid the Asteroids 102
Brainstorm 103
Flowcharts 103
Green fl ag fl owchart 104
Robot fl owchart 105
Start a New Project 106
Add Three Backdrops 106
Add a Robot Sprite 108
Add an Asteroid Sprite 110
Make Dents and Timer Variables 112
Add Background Music from the Sound Library 113
Code the Green Flag Blocks 114
Background 114
Robot 117
Asteroids 122
Build Your Asteroid Field 125
Code Key Control of the Robot 126
Enhance Your Scene 127
Save, Test, and Debug Your Program 128
Share Your Program with the World 128
Big Ideas in the Project 128
Project 7: Get Fancy 131
Programming Your Own Ideas 132
Getting inspiration from Scratchers 132
Getting inspiration from MakeCode projects 134
Looking at daily human challenges 134
Entering some contests 135
Getting Your Scratch Programs into the World 135
Sharing a project in Scratch 135
Starting your own Scratch studio 136
Making Your Gadgets Real 137
Putting a program on the micro:bit board 137
Adding more hardware 139
Upping Your Game 140
At-home learning 140
Camps and clubs 140
Books 141
Souping Up User Interfaces in Scratch 142
Painting your own images 142
Finding images online 143
Recording your own sounds 144
Finding sounds online 144
Next Steps 145
Coding at school 145
Coding in college 145
Coding as a career 146
