Code 4 Change: Kids Teaching Kids

Thanks for participating!

The Coding Space's Code 4 Change Challenge is Back!

This fall, we're asking coders to put their creativity to work helping students learn with technology. Code 4 Change: Kids Teaching Kids asks kids to make learning more fun and engaging for early elementary classes everywhere by developing games, projects, and more to explain important skills and concepts like math, science, reading, and more. Coders' projects will be used by actual early elementary students across the country. Help kids just like you learn from home this fall!

Learn More About C4C: Kids Teaching Kids

Who is invited to participate?

Coders of all skill levels are encouraged to sign up. This event is free and open to the general public and kids of all ages. Coders who are signed up for TCS fall classes will have the added benefit of class time to work on their project as well as personalized support from our instructors.

What will kids be making?

Kids will be asked to choose a topic from this list of early elementary concepts (for kids in grades PreK-2), ranging from math and reading basics to social studies and science. They will then create a project, game, or presentation of their choice using a programming language like Scratch, WoofJS, or another to explain the concept to early elementary students. We recommend that coders include clear visuals, easy-to-follow instructions, simple rules, and an approachable pace. All projects should be created as if the students cannot read independently at all.

When is Code 4 Change happening?

Code 4 Change: Kids Teaching Kids kicks off officially on November 1st, but kids are invited to begin coding their projects as soon as they sign up. Coders will have four weeks to code their projects before turning them in by December 5th. Voting begins December 6th.

Where does C4C: Kids Teaching Kids happen?

This challenge is entirely virtual, so kids can participate wherever they have access to a computer and the internet. TCS students will have the opportunity to work on their projects during class, but we love when students work on their projects at home (parental decisions about screen time permitting), so you may find them bringing it up in conversation with you as they work or even asking for your help. Education is an issue that affects all of us, so working together to find solutions is expected and encouraged.

Why Kids Teaching Kids?

With schools disrupted by COVID-19, alternative learning strategies are more important than ever—especially for students that are starting out their educational journey in distance or hybrid learning environments. Using technology to create fun, engaging learning opportunities for younger students allows kids to help others adjust to this new normal and receive valuable feedback on their coding projects and progress. Moreover, it creates opportunities to feel a sense of connection and contribution to a larger community in a time when it’s easy to feel isolated. Much like a peer-to-peer mentorship or pen pal program, the result of this symbiosis is an increased level of connection, expansion of perspective, and seeking of knowledge:

For early elementary learners, receiving educational tools from older peers can help bridge the age gap and encourage kids to learn through play. Plus, this program provides early exposure to computer science skill sets.
For older participants, making tools that will be used by younger peers encourages a sense of ownership in the project and generosity, allowing kids to make a positive impact on others and learn through teaching.

How will projects be judged?

All completed projects will be hosted on the TCS website. Voting opens on December 6th when participants will have the opportunity to vote for Coder’s Choice. The TCS team will reveal this winner, as well as winners in several technical categories chosen by our TCS instructors, during a live virtual event on Sunday, December 13th. Qualifying projects (those that teach clear and accurate info) will be shared with participating early elementary classes after the challenge comes to a close.

How can kids get involved?

Participating coders can sign up here by October 31st and decide which teaching topic they’d like to focus on with their project.

Know of an early elementary class that would be interested in trying out our coders' projects? Contact us to get started.

Coders of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate, both inside and outside of our classes. Participants can work individually or in teams. Participation is free and open to all.

October 19th

Registration opens

Participants will have four weeks to work on their projects. Group projects are also encouraged.

November 20th

Registration closes

Make sure to register by November 20th. If you miss the deadline, you may still be able to participate, just contact us here.

December 5th

Projects shared

Come back to this site and upload your work! Make sure to follow our sharing instructions carefully.

December 6th

Time to vote

Come back to this page to try out other coders' projects and cast your vote for Coder’s Choice. Voting is open through December 12th.

December 13th

Winners announced

Winners will be announced live during a special virtual event!

Early Elementary Teaching Topics

Below you'll find the categories and concepts that your project can teach. For more information on each, including suggestions and recommendations on how to make your project approachable to learners of all ages, click here.

Math

Numbers and counting
Basic addition and subtraction
Identifying shapes
Simple word or visual math problems

Literacy

Recognizing or matching uppercase and lowercase letters
Consonant and vowel letter sounds
Beginning reading

Science

The five senses
Seasons and weather

Social Studies

Identifying emotions
People who work in your neighborhood

Wondering what's possible? Here are a few sample project designs to get you started.

How Many teaches kids how to count by asking them to select the correct number of objects.
View Project

Press the Key teaches kids to recognize letters and find them on the keyboard.
View Project

Emoji Quest teaches kids about feelings by matching emojis to emotions.
View Project

Prizes

Winners will be announced during a live virtual event on December 13th and each category winner will receive a donation of $50 to DonorsChoose to support the classroom of their choice. All projects will be featured on the TCS website and qualifying projects will be shared with participating early elementary classes.

The Code 4 Change Challenge in 7 Steps

Sign Up by November 20th

Participation is free and open to all. Coders can work individually or as a team, but in order to submit your work, be considered for prizes, or to have your project shared with students, you must be a registered participant. If you miss the deadline, you may still be able to participate, just contact us here.

Check out our teaching topics to get inspired!

What concept are you interested in teaching early elementary students? Maybe it’s a subject you enjoyed when you were young. Or maybe it’s a more challenging idea that you want to help kids understand. How could you teach them this concept using technology and computer science? If you feel stuck, check out these examples.

Find a place to make your project.

For beginners ages 6-12, we recommend creating your project in Scratch. For ages 12+ or coders with more experience, check out WoofJS, Codepen, or Glitch. No matter which platform you choose, you’ll need to create an account in order to save your work and share it. (If you already have an account on the platform you’re using, no need to make a new one!) Please note: we are only able to accept projects created on these four platforms. View our sharing instructions here.

Get started!

You can work on your project alone, on a team with other kids, or with your family. Educational issues impact everyone, so teamwork is encouraged.

Visit this page on December 5th to submit your project.

All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm on December 5th. You must have signed up for our contest to submit your project. Project sharing depends on the platform you used to create your project. Further down this page, we’ve listed specific sharing instructions for each of the four platforms.

Cast your votes starting December 6th.

Come back to this page starting December 6th to check out all of the Code 4 Change projects and cast your vote for the Coder’s Choice award (one vote per person). TCS instructors will then playtest the projects and select winners in a variety of categories.

Winners announced on December 13th.

Check back here to learn more about how to tune into our special live virtual event on December 13th! Completed projects will be hosted on the TCS website and qualifying projects will be shared with participating early elementary classes.