0131 271 4900 | Learning Technology Team, Midlothian Council | learning.technology@mgfl.net

Coding Apps for Primary

Lots of teachers have been asking for lists of apps which can be used in the classroom that I have found useful. This is a tricky task as the app store is constantly adding more and more great apps that can be used across the school. Below I am going to provide a screenshot of the apps I use when teaching coding lessons. Below the screenshot I will provide a brief summary of each. The best news is….they are all free!

Swift – Swift Playgrounds is a new Apple app which teaches you to write Swift code in a fun, interactive way. It is heavily text based so your pupils would have to be able to read the instructions. It also comes with nice explanations about coding. I would recommend this app at the end of primary school into secondary and more so for pupils who have had experience with computer coding.

Tickle/Tynker – Both of these apps connect all of your devices together so you can code and program multiple devices from one iPad. By devices I am referring to Sphero, Dash and Dot, Drones and so on. It is very similar to Scratch which is block based coding.

Lightbot Hour: This app challenges pupils to program the Lightbot to light up all the blue squares. It allows children to problem solve and practice loops and sequences.

Bee-Bot – I have used this app with Primary 1 onwards to teach maths and programming. It is exactly the same as a real Beebot device. Stars are awarded based on the number of attempts needed to program the Beebot which children like.

Fix The Factory – This app is a puzzle game from Lego Mindstorms. It involves coding a humanoid robot to walk, rotate, grab, shoot and put misplaced battery packs at the NOGO factory back in their right place.

Pyonkee – Children can use visual blocks (similar to Scratch) to create original games, animations and stories on their own as well as using computational thinking skills and logic. I have used this after using Scratch.

Code School – I have used this more at Second Level to look closely at html coding but the app has been recently updated and now allows you to view screencasts on Ruby, Java Script, Python etc. This is a great resource for pupils ready for more challenge.

Run Marco – I recently found this app. It involves pupils coding Marco or Sophia through a series of levels. It is designed for 6 year olds and up and is block based visual coding.

Kodable – Children LOVE this one. A lovely furry ball that needs to collect coins. The children have to code the ball using directions and colour blocks. Lower primary and up!

Scratch Jr – Popular app used by schools to introduce coding. I have used this in Primary 1 to 7 to introduce coding. You can increase the level of challenge to extend coding skills. Teacher’s have noted that this is a great tool for literacy and IDL work.

Daisy the Dino – Very similar to Scratch except it is a dinosaur called Daisy instead.

Hopscotch – Great app to design and program games. There are excellent tutorial videos which you can play in the bottom corner of your screen as you are coding on your project. Children in my class last year created a surfer riding on waves made out of blue emojis!

Cargo-Bot – Harder than it looks. I struggle with the harder levels of this but some children in my class managed to get it. Great for computational thinking skills.

STEM Challenges with Sphero

STEM Challenges with Sphero

Sphero Education have created STEM challenges which can be completed by using Sphero. There are many ideas from schools across the world on Twitter and Pinterest but here are a few lesson plans available from their website which could be useful.

Chariot Challenge

Introduction: Intro-1ykmhip

Challenge Documents: STEM1-2keb1cn

 

Bridge Building Challenge

Introduction:Intro-1ykmhjl

Challenge Documents: STEM2-22jakud

 

Hydro Hypothesis Challenge

Introduction:Intro-1ykmhko

Challenge Documents: STEM3-1s5ympp

 

Maze Mayhem Challenge

Introduction: Intro-1ykmhm4

Challenge Documents: STEM4-15g3uf4

 

 

STEM Challenges with Sphero

Sphero Maths Lessons

Sphero Education provides lots of different resources which support teachers in delivering Maths experiences and outcomes. They provide an introduction, student guide, teacher guide and worksheet for each lesson. By clicking on the PDF’s below, you will get access to the materials you will need.

2D Geometry

Introduction: Intro-1ykmgul

Student Guide: MacroLab2_StudentGuide-1lv770v

Teacher Guide: MacroLab2_TeacherGuide-27c7yaq

Worksheet: MacroLab2_Worksheet-y83spq

 

Mean, Median and Mode

Introduction: Intro-1ykmh0w

Student Guide: MacroLab3_StudentGuide-1uxn9ff

Teacher Guide :MacroLab3_TeacherGuide-10a00b1

Worksheet: MacroLab3_Worksheet-1vp9cci

 

Percentages

Introduction:Intro-1ykmh3g

Student Guide: MacroLab4_StudentGuide-1mcup4j

Teacher Guide: MacroLab4_TeacherGuide-28zzb2e

Worksheet: MacroLab4_Worksheet-ooyy3d

 

Patterns and Colours

Introduction: Intro-1ykmh5a

Student Guide: MacroLab5_StudentGuide-1uhjv6e

Teacher Guide: MacroLab5_TeacherGuide-ypocyx

Worksheet: MacroLab5_Worksheet-244fvar

 

Time, Distance, Speed

Introduction: ._Intro-22rzhzl

Student Guide: ._MacroLab1_StudentGuide-1fhvn8f

Teacher Guide: ._MacroLab1_TeacherGuide-2azzuq8

Worksheet: ._MacroLab1_Worksheet-2ge6onh

 

Other fun learning opportunities: Angles-266z2om

Mystery Skype

Mystery Skype

Before the Christmas holidays, I worked alongside pupils and staff in Primary 6 at Saint Mary’s Primary School to have my first ever Mystery Skype session. Initially, I contacted a teacher via the Microsoft Educator Community site. I had to ensure the teachers I was contacting were available during my school day due to different time zones. I began to speak to a teacher in Canada through email and discussed how we would take the call forward.

We played Mystery Skype. This is a guessing game for both classes as they have to find out where each class is located in the world by asking yes and no questions. In preparation, the Microsoft Educator site has a OneNote available which includes details for jobs children could do and how to prepare for the call. I visited P6 and the children applied for their roles based on their own skills and knowledge. I then allocated roles and we did a test Skype to make sure everyone knew what they were doing.

On the day of the Mystery Skype, the children connected and began to ask and answer questions. Every child was engaged and stayed in role throughout. It was amazing when the children in Canada managed to pin point Saint Mary’s Primary in Bonnyrigg. It turned out they were located in Nova Scotia, Canada. From this the children had a conversation with the children in Nova Scotia and found out they were off school the week before because of bad snow and that with high winds it was -30 degrees Celsius. They also learned more about Canadian Christmas traditions.

What a fantastic learning opportunity for both schools involved. The ability to take a class of pupils on a virtual trip to another class across the world is a great representation of how technology can enhance learning and provide learning opportunities beyond the four walls of your classroom.