This week, our school participated in Hour of Code, a worldwide initiative that introduces students to the basics of computer science in a fun and accessible way. Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students across more than 180 countries. The idea is simple: give students one hour to explore coding through engaging, easy-to-follow tutorials—no prior experience required. The activities are self-guided and use familiar characters and games like Minecraft, Star Wars, and Frozen to make learning exciting.

For our elementary learners in grades K–5, the tutorials are designed to be developmentally appropriate and highly interactive. Students explore foundational coding concepts such as sequencing, loops, and conditionals through visual, game-like platforms. As they work through puzzles and challenges, they practice critical thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance. These skills not only build confidence but also lay important groundwork for future STEM learning. By starting early, students begin to see technology as a creative tool—helping them view themselves as capable innovators and problem-solvers in a digital world.

At The Summit, students participate in Hour of Code at the classroom level by dedicating an hour to learning and exploring basic coding concepts. They will also continue engaging with Hour of Code activities during their STEM classes throughout the month of December.

Here are some of the Hour of Code activities our students have been working on:

• Minecraft: Voyage Aquatic – Code.org
  https://studio.code.org/courses/aquatic/units/1/lessons/1/levels/1

• Minecraft: Hero’s Journey – Code.org
  https://studio.code.org/courses/hero/units/1/lessons/1/levels/1

• Flappy – Code.org
  https://studio.code.org/flappy/1

• Dance Party – Code.org
  https://studio.code.org/courses/dance-2019/units/1/lessons/1/levels/1

• Hello World – Code.org
  https://code.org/en-US/hour-of-code/helloworld

• Artist – Code.org
  https://studio.code.org/courses/artist/units/1/lessons/1/levels/1

• CodeMonkey: Beaver Achiever
  https://app.codemonkey.com/beaver-achiever/hour-of-code/1

• CodeMonkey: Junior Sequencing Challenges
  https://app.codemonkey.com/junior/chapters/sequencing/challenges/1