Young Coders 2022 is an initiative for primary schools aimed at helping teachers to become more confident with teaching coding skills. The children are tasked with making a computer game using Scratch that aligns with a particular theme. Any teacher can run the competition, whether they are familiar with coding or completely new to it. All the session planning is done for you, so you can learn alongside your pupils. The resources include 12 weeks of lesson planning for absolute beginners (children and teachers!) or a shorter 6 week version for those who already have a little experience with using Scratch. These resources can be used as part of the Computing curriculum in your school or as part of an extracurricular club or can be used by a parent or guardian which proved popular during school closures with the COVID 19 pandemic.
The theme for 2022 is ‘My World, Our Planet’. Teams will need to design a reactive computer game using Scratch around the theme of the environment and sustainability. This could be tackling issues which concern them locally or on a national or global scale. We are looking for games which will encourage their peers to look after and improve the environment and conserve natural resources - the more creative and imaginative the better!
Organised collaboratively by the STEM Ambassador Hub East Midlands, STEM Ambassador Hub South East, Cranfield University, the University of Northampton, Canterbury Christ Church University & The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the competition runs throughout the UK and is free to enter.
Visit the website for more information.