Kira D.
Kira D. Education Content Assistant
June 7, 2016
By  
Kira D.
  |  
June 7, 2016

Summer's right around the corner, and many kids are anticipating their first day of camp. A type of camp that's seen a huge spike in interest in recent years has been tech camps -- especially ones focused on coding. Kids headed to coding camps will get to build things they can actually enjoy and use, like robots, computer games, and iOS apps. Plus they'll pick up valuable skills for future school projects and 21st-century careers.

For those with coding camps on the mind, we're highlighting our popular Best Apps and Websites for Learning Programming and Coding top picks list, along with our grade level-specific lists: Best Coding Tools for Elementary, Best Coding Tools for Middle School, and Best Coding Tools for High School.

At the elementary level, kids can learn to code using these tools that focus on the foundations of programming: problem-solving, logic, and critical thinking. By learning these skills early and through the context of code, kids are empowered to become creators, not just consumers, of the technology they're growing up with.

Middle schoolers might be at different levels of familiarity, but these tools are applicable to every level of knowledge -- from more building block-style tools great for beginners to advanced tutorials that get students using real languages to make apps, websites, and games.
The high school-level tools will help students build this essential 21st-century literacy by learning how code works and how to write code themselves. Once they're up to snuff, coding will give your students a new way to demonstrate knowledge and express themselves.

Our full top picks list for elementary, middle school, and high school coding apps, games, and websites.

 

 
Kira D.

As Education Content Assistant for Common Sense Education, Kira supported the editorial team with a wide array of projects such as the Graphite blog, analysis of content coverage, content creation for our Top Picks, and beyond. Kira joined Common Sense with a background in education nonprofits and museums and a passion for learning. She has previously worked in administrative and executive support roles and has dabbled in communications, public relations, and graphic design. Originally from the Boston area, Kira fulfilled a lifelong dream by relocating to San Francisco and can now be found exploring the west coast by foot, kayak, and zip car.