Across the District, Hendrick Hudson Embraces Hour of Code Week
Throughout the district this week, Hendrick Hudson students participated in Hour of Code activities, joining a nationwide initiative that introduces students to computer science and programming.
At the elementary schools, the K-5 STEAM teachers — in collaboration with the district’s Instructional Technology Facilitator, Nicole Stabell, — curated a list of content-aligned, grade-appropriate activities for the classes to participate in. From an “unplugged” activity for kindergarteners, to patterning in math, to programming a solar system, Hendrick Hudson elementary students at every grade levelwere able to experience a new coding activity to celebrate Hour of Code Week.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn coding and enrich their skills,” Stabell said. “Seeing the excitement, watching them learn how to navigate new platforms and show off their skills, and having them engage in problem-solving strategies when they experienced a struggle was all incredibly rewarding to observe. It was a wonderful way to button up 2024!”
At Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School, students in Jessica Anderson and Tara Hayes’ second-grade class used the program Kodable on their Chromebooks. The children had to get a fuzzy friend safely to the end of a maze by programming its movements. Kodable simplifies the students’ ability to develop fundamental coding skills, grow confident in their problem solving and experience the joy of real coding and creation.
For some children, the program was new; for others, it was familiar.
Anderson said one student, Calvin, asked, “I love Kodable — can I do this at home?” At his request, the teachers sent the login information home with students to allow them to continue programming on their own time.
At Blue Mountain Middle School, students in Logan Krause and Paul Gioacchini’s Art & Design classes participated in their own Hour of Code project. The seventh graders, for example, designed and developed a clone of the classic arcade game Asteroids.
“In this unit, students are introduced to fundamental concepts of coding development, such as basic if-then conditions, variable and visual scripting,” Krause said. “Students also learned basic game design architecture and explored what components are essential for creating games that are fun and engaging.”