March 28, 2024

The Hour of Code

EU elementary classes pass on their computer science knowledge to younger students

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The room was filled with calls of “Mrs. Patten, I got three stars,” students bringing their computers to her to show off the badges they earned and high-fives all around.

These second-graders were learning to type and code and loving every minute of it.

Robin McNutt’s fourth graders had just finished teaching them for the Hour of Code that every student at East Union Elementary School is participating in this week and they asked to keep practicing when the lesson was over.

The fourth- and fifth-graders have computer science class every day due to an award the school received from the Iowa Governors STEM Advisory Council.

For Computer Science Education Week, they are sharing that knowledge with the younger students in an event known as the Hour of Code, which started as a way to show that anyone can learn the basics of computer coding and has become a worldwide event celebrating computer science.

Each fourth and fifth grade class is teaching the younger classes for an hour this week so that all of the students, from transitional kindergarten and up, will participate.

Tuesday, McNutt’s students presented a power point created by two fifth-graders, Aiden Denton and Gunner Swanson to Hollie Patten’s second-grade class and then provided one-on-one help to introduce typing.com and work on code.org with the younger students.

Raelynn Jones and Hayleigh Cooley explained to Kiera Chew that proper posture is important while typing and praised her progress in the program.

“Keep your pointer finger on the lines. Never keep your elbows against you or you will get pains in your fingers,” Cooley said.

“She got three stars almost all of the time,” Jones said.

Kayson Harper worked with William Halterman to create loops on code.org. Loops are a way to make the computer do the same action repetitively. Harper showed how to use a repeat bot to make the animated figure pick six ears of corn.

Patten said her goal for the students is to help them get set up for the future and prepare them for the upper grades.

“Today’s kids are technology all the way around,” Patten said. “Everything is digital, even McDonalds.”

She tries to incorporate technology into instruction as much as possible, using a program for science that allows students to work individually in addition to face-to face teaching time with her.

Participate

The Hour of Code is not limited to elementary students or even schools. Individuals can sign up on www.hourofcode.com and will be directed to free coding activities on sites such as code.org that are available in more than 45 languages.