With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. An account is required if you want to save your projects. Get started with Scratch here, or try the Pong Game tutorial here.
MIT App Inventor is a visual programming environment that allows students to build fully functional apps for smartphones and tablets. The blocks-based tool facilitates the creation of complex apps in significantly less time than traditional programming environments. A Google account is required. Get started with MIT App Inventor here, or try the Magic-8 Ball tutorial here.
You play a mother dragon who must rescue her hatchlings from an unpleasant band of demons that have kidnapped them. The band’s boss sends a stream of demons to destroy the dragon as the hatchlings make their escape. The mother can fend off the boss’s minions by shooting fireballs, but must be careful not to accidentally shoot the hatchlings! Download the Evil Clutches resources here.
LEGO Mindstorms is a programmable robotics kit. The main component is a brick-shaped computer. It can take input from up to four sensors and control up to three motors. The four sensors include the touch sensor, the sound sensor, the light sensor, and the ultrasonic sensor. These sensors can be used to make the robot avoid obstacles, sense and measure distance, detect movement and sound, and differentiate between light and dark. You can find some additional NXT projects here.
Jeroo is a text-based coding environment designed to help novices master the basic mechanics of object oriented programming. It features a limited syntax to emphasize basic computational thinking skills like problem decomposition, the semantics of control structures like loops and ifs, and use of objects and state to solve problems. Get started with Jeroo here.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer software to facilitate the generation, modification, and optimization of a part or a compilation of parts. Students can start learning CAD by building simple models, like Minecraft characters.
Python is a computer programming language. It is easy to learn, and can be used to write all sorts of computer programs. People use Python to build games, online tools, and websites. Python looks like a mixture of recognizable words and characters, so it can be easily read and understood by humans.
Pencil Code is a collaborative programming site for drawing art, playing music, and creating games. It is also a place to experiment with mathematical functions, geometry, graphing, webpages, simulations, and algorithms. The main language is Coffeescript. Pencil Code can also be used to explore and learn Javascript, HTML, and CSS. Get started with Pencil Code here.
Processing is geared toward creating visual, interactive media, so the first programs start with drawing. Students new to programming find it satisfying to make something appear on their screen within moments of using the software. Get started with Processing here.
FL Studio is a complete software music production environment or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Representing more than 20 years of innovative development it has everything you need in one package to compose, arrange, record, edit, mix and master professional quality music. Get started with FL Studio here.
Create dance animations through code. Students build understanding and learn how to create a dance party using dancers, events, and properties. Dancers respond to music and dance moves can be controlled through user input.
Google's Quick, Draw! here.
Google's Teachable Machine here.
Google's MixLab here.
Structure of a Neural Net here.
TensorFlow Playground here.