Kodable helps kids learn coding through interactive games and self-guided activities. No prior coding knowledge is required, students start from beginner level and work their way up to advanced levels where they get to use coding syntax to write commands in simplified versions of JavaScript or Swift.
Kodable offers a wide variety of unplugged lessons and educational materials teachers can use to introduce kids to the world of coding and help them develop their computer programming skills. Teachers can track students progress and access detailed reports on their performance.
Kodable teaches students coding in three easy steps: First, teachers use the ready-made lessons to introduce students to various coding concepts. Second, students play the games to practice the coding knowledge and skills they learned in the lessons. Third, students apply their coding skills in creative coding projects.
The purpose of this post is to introduce you to Kodable and show you some of the useful features it offers.
Related: Best websites that help students learn coding
Kodable Coding Lessons
Kodable’s curriculum is thoughtfully designed to accommodate both classroom and remote learning environments, offering a diverse array of unplugged lessons tailored to students from kindergarten through 5th grade. Educators have the flexibility to select lessons based on specific grade levels or targeted coding concepts such as sequences, conditions, loops, functions, variables, and properties, ensuring a personalized learning experience for each student.
Each Kodable lesson is structured to maximize learning outcomes, starting with a ‘Prep’ section that outlines the lesson’s objectives and the materials needed. The ‘Teach’ section provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for educators to deliver the lesson effectively.
This is followed by an ‘Unplugged activity’, which engages students with hands-on activities to reinforce the coding concepts being taught. ‘Independent practice’ allows students to apply what they’ve learned on their own, promoting autonomy in their learning journey. Finally, the ‘Reflect’ section offers strategies for educators to assess students’ understanding and grasp of the material.
In addition to these comprehensive lesson plans, Kodable enriches the teaching experience with a plethora of printable resources. These include teacher guides that offer further insights into lesson delivery, classroom materials to support interactive learning, worksheets for additional practice, vocab cards to build coding literacy, and certificates of completion to celebrate students’ achievements. These resources are designed to support educators in creating an engaging and effective coding curriculum, making learning to code an enjoyable and rewarding experience for students.
Kodable Games for Kids
Kodable takes learning to code to a whole new level of fun and engagement for kids with its innovative suite of games, each designed to cater to different age groups and coding proficiencies.
- Smeeborg for Beginners (K-2nd Grade): At the heart of Kodable’s offerings is Smeeborg, a captivating maze game that introduces young learners to the core principles of coding. By navigating their fuzzy character through the Technomaze, kids grasp fundamental coding concepts such as sequences, conditions, loops, and functions. Beyond coding, Smeeborg is a playground for developing essential life skills like problem-solving, resilience, and critical thinking, all while advancing to new levels and collecting stars.
- Asteroidia for Intermediates (2nd-5th Grade): For those ready to level up, Asteroidia challenges students to apply variables, including integers, arrays, and strings, to navigate through and disintegrate an asteroid field, aiming to secure three stars. This game deepens understanding of systems thinking and cause and effect, reinforcing resilience and enhancing problem-solving abilities in a more complex coding environment.
- Bug World for Advanced Learners (4th-5th Grade): Catering to older students, Bug World delves into the intricacies of object-oriented programming. Players employ real coding languages, such as JavaScript and Swift, to construct defense towers, safeguarding power flowers from the nefarious Slimes. This advanced game not only sharpens decision-making and critical thinking skills but also introduces players to the fundamentals of classes, properties, variables, and the broader concepts of object-oriented programming and programming languages.
Kodable Coding Projects for Kids
Kodable enriches the coding journey for kids with a trio of engaging projects that seamlessly blend the coding skills acquired through interactive lessons and games with creative expression. These projects are designed to empower young learners to harness their newfound coding abilities in imaginative and innovative ways.
- Fuzz Builder: This project invites students to dive into the world of character creation using KODE, Kodable’s intuitive coding language. After mastering the Alien Algorithms level in the Smeeborg game, learners are equipped to design their very own fuzz characters. Fuzz Builder is more than just a coding task; it’s an opportunity for kids to explore self-expression and creativity while reinforcing their understanding of variables, properties, sequences, and classes.
- Maze Maker: Here, students put their coding prowess to work by designing unique Technomazes. Drawing upon the critical thinking and problem-solving skills honed in the If Fuzz, Then Roll level of Smeeborg, Maze Maker challenges learners to apply design thinking, embrace rapid iteration, and foster collaboration. It’s a project that not only tests their coding skills but also encourages them to think like designers and work as part of a team.
- Game Designer: Taking the creative application of coding to the next level, Game Designer allows students to create their own customized ‘asteroid-blaster’ game. Having completed the String Beans level in the Celestial Strings series of Asteroidia, students are ready to tackle this project. It’s an exercise in both design thinking and object-oriented programming, where kids get to apply advanced coding concepts such as variables, classes, and properties, transforming them into budding game developers.
Hour of Code in Kodable
The Hour of Code, inaugurated in December 2013 by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org, stands as a global movement aimed at demystifying the field of computer science and introducing programming to students worldwide. This initiative, while officially celebrated annually in December, offers the flexibility for students to engage in an hour of computer science activities at any point throughout the year, whether they’re learning from the comfort of their home or within the classroom setting.
Kodable offers a unique platform for students to participate in the Hour of Code, providing an accessible and engaging way to explore the basics of coding and computer science. By engaging with Kodable’s user-friendly activities, students can embark on a journey of discovery and creativity, all while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
To get a closer look at how students can dive into the Hour of Code with Kodable, watching this informative video is highly recommended. It not only outlines the steps to get started but also highlights the enriching learning experience Kodable brings to this global coding initiative.
Kodable app
Kodable is available as a mobile app for iOS devices: iPhone (iOS 11.0 or later), iPad (iPadOS 11.0 or later), and iPod Touch (iOS 11.0 or later). Kodable can also be accessed through any browser from a desktop or tablet.
How Much Does Kodable Cost
Kodable offers both free and premium plans. The free plan includes only starter kit of lesson plans and videos to introduce coding concepts. To unlock more content and features you need to upgrade. There is the premium plan which costs $1250 per year and the Premium+ (ask for a quote).
More Sources:
- What is Kodable (Video by Kodable)
- Kodable teacher guide (PDF by Kodable)
- How to use Kodable for teachers (Video by Kodable)
- 5 Reasons to teach kids to code (Poster by Kodable)
