This document lists and summarizes 7 coding apps to help teach kids coding skills. It describes each app's platform, cost, teaching approach, and target age group. The apps use games and visual programming interfaces to introduce concepts like building games, animating sprites, and programming procedures and logic in a fun, self-paced way. Coding is presented as an important skill for developing problem-solving and critical thinking abilities in students as young as age 7.

1. 7 APPS TO HELP TEACH YOUR
KIDS CODING
By Tory Reiss

2. WHY CODING?
! Coding is everywhere and in everything
! Kids are learning to code at younger and younger
ages
! Elementary school students are beginning to code
! A whole host of new apps are being created to
help children learn how to code

3. GAMESTAR MECHANIC
! Platform: Web
! Cost: $2 per student
! Teaches kids from 7-14 to create their own video
games
! Self-pacing quests are used to teach how to build
game levels
! Focuses on critical thinking and problem solving
! Embedded with Edmodo for easy logins for
students

4. SCRATCH
! Platform: Web
! Cost: Free
! Designed by MIT students and staff specifically
for 8-16 year olds to program
! Students use bricks made of visual programming
language to animate sprite with sound, loops,
and more
! Includes teaching guides, communities, and other
resources

5. TYNKER
! Platform: Web
! Cost: Free (premium option available)
! Similar interface to Scratch but focuses on
teaching programming
! Features lesson plans, classroom management
tools, self-pacing lessons, and an online showcase
of student creations

6. MOVE THE TURTLE
! Platform: iOS (iPad and iPod)
! Cost: $2.99
! A game that teaches programming procedures
! Each new level increases difficulty and teaches a
new command
! Includes a free-play “compose” mode that allows
freedom of movement

7. HOPSCOTCH
! Platform: iPad
! Cost: Free
! Similar to Scratch and Tynker
! Uses similar controls and block-dragging format
! Controls and characters are less extensive
! Perfect for students with no prior coding
experience or interest who want to learn the
basics

8. DAISY THE DINOSAUR
! Platform: iPad
! Cost: Free
! From the makers of Hopscotch
! Aimed at the youngest coders
! Similar interface to Hopscotch but much simpler
! Only a dinosaur to move and basic functions
! Great for introducing the young to programming

9. CARGO-BOT
! Platform: iPad
! Cost: Free
! Players must program a crane to move colored
crates on each level
! Game was programmed on an iPad using a
touch-based coding app
! Great intro for text-based coding using Lua

10. MORE CODING THINGS
! Coding helps foster problem-solving and critical/
logical thinking
! Code.org is a pro-coding education nonprofit
! Features quotes from famous and important people
promoting the importance of coding in children’s
education
! Thanks to
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-apps-teaching-
children-coding-anna-adam?
utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_
campaign=blog-coding-apps-list-repost3 for
inspiring this PowerPoint

11. MARIA KLAWE, COMPUTER PROGRAMMER AND
INVENTOR
! “Coding is today's language of creativity. All our
children deserve a chance to become creators
instead of consumers of computer science”