Made with Code does a great job introducing kids to visual-based coding. Projects are relatively short, can be used for individual or group work, and are relevant to tween/teen interests. Consider the mentor videos as discussion points about opportunities in the tech industry; use Host a Party to inspire a whole-class coding challenge or for Hour of Code; collaborate with other projects in your area to build a network of young coders.
After completing a few projects, kids will be ready to apply their skills in other coding platforms such as Scratch, Code Avengers, Codemoji, or Codecademy. Many popular robotics kits run on Blockly code, too, so this website’s a great launching pad into the world of robotics.
Continue readingEditor's Note: Made with Code is no longer available as a standalone site.
Google’s Made with Code aims to introduce girls to the world of coding through various resources including tutorials, videos, partner projects, and community connections. Tutorial projects use Blockly, a visual programming language where blocks fit together into logical sequences to complete a task. Choose from a dozen custom coding projects such as designing an avatar or GIFs, enabling a dance visualizer or music mixer, and more.
What makes this site stand out from others is its mentor videos and community resources. Inspiring videos showcase a diverse range of female coders from industries including robotics, fashion, public service, entertainment, and healthcare. These coding women defy gender stereotypes and model opportunities in a typically male-dominated field. Similarly, the Community and Resource pages showcase partnership projects created by teams of teen coders, as well as a searchable database of coding opportunities across the United States.
Made with Code teaches kids coding concepts like variables, modifiers, and sequences through relatable projects. The interface is familiar for coding/media design tools and consists of a layout window with tools, a work place, and a viewer panel. Creations are built in an x-y axis and kids can see variable changes in real time. So overall, it’s easy to use. The drag-and-drop, Blockly coding language breaks down programming concepts step by step and is very accommodating to beginners, as blocks must fit together for the code to run properly. Project goals are well-explained and sequenced into steps, so it’s also great for teaching logic. Once kids achieve mastery in Made for Code, they can apply their skill set to intermediate- and advanced-level coding tools.
Be sure to check out the mentor and peer videos for inspiring stories of how coding works in the world around us. Regardless of gender, Made with Code’s a great launching pad for any emerging coder.