BOOK REVIEW: Official ScratchJr Book

Most parents with children of a certain age know about the Scratch programming language as much as the kids themselves. It is a free app that lets kids to code in an easy way by showing them how to create games and animations.


bookMost parents with children of a certain age know about the Scratch programming language as much as the kids themselves. It is a free app that lets kids to code in an easy way by showing them how to create games and animations.The best back-up to Scratch if kids want to learn more about coding is the Official ScratchJr Book, which lets them (as well as their parents and teachers) drill into the app and take things to a different level.

Unlike the app, this physical book isn’t free and costs around £13 from various app stores, the Kindle edition being slightly cheaper. It is, however, worth that small investment. Getting teenagers to code is a Herculean task because for many it is perceived as extra maths or even difficult algebra; timing is key if they are to maintain an interest.

By working with them at any time for the five years before teenhood with books such as these means there is an above-average chance they will go with the coding flow. If they don’t, then by the time they leave their teenage years the world may have no use for them if they cannot code. That is the New Normal, it doesn’t even ‘scratch’ the surface of how important this skill, even art, is going to be.

Free Gamer Kit from Google for UK kid coders

codeclubTechnology education organisations Code Club and Technology Will Save Us have been brought together to offer an amazing opportunity to 900 children around the UK.

Thanks to $100,000 from the Google RISE program, children in Code Clubs will be able to receive DIY Gamer Kit to build and program during their club sessions for free, which normally costs £60.

The kit allows kids to solder together 40 parts on a custom circuit board to build their own handheld games console. Once the build is complete the console, controlled by Arduino, can be programmed to create exciting games. Children in Code Clubs will be taught soldering, electronics, programming and design using resources that have been created especially for the project.

Code Clubs that are interested in receiving free DIY Gamer Kits and resources can click here to find out more.

Understandably, due to the feel-good nature of this project, there were no end of quotes from those involved.

“Google has a critical role to play in making computer science more accessible and inclusive globally, especially for girls. This education is key, not just for developing tech sector talent, but for creating technology that makes a difference,” said Hai Hong, the K-12 Outreach Program Manager at Google.

“We are thrilled to be working with Code Club and it is exciting that Google is enabling these kinds of partnerships. This collaboration draws on the strengths of both organisations and allows us to enable thousands of young people and hundred of volunteers to become digital makers,” said Technology Will Save Us’ CEO Bethany Koby.

“We’ve had fantastic success teaching children to code in our clubs since 2012, and we’re excited to give them the opportunity to learn physical computing too. Programming devices to interact with their surroundings is an engaging, hands-on way to learn coding,” said Code Club’s Head of Education, Rik Cross.