gRADES 6 - 8 coding Resources

 

It’s exciting to see all that this age group is capable of learning and doing with coding! At this age, students are able to create complicated games, animations, stories, apps, etc. If you scroll down, you’ll find our top picks to keep this age group learning, growing and having fun, whether they are beginners, experts, or somewhere in between.

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  • Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop

    If your child wants to start playing resource intensive games like Overwatch, Fortnite, APEX Legends, and so on, you are going to need a powerful PC. The great thing about a gaming laptop is that it will last for a very long time, and you can do literally anything on it, from editing video to hardcore gaming to heavy coding and game creation.

  • Apple MacBook Air

    We don’t recommend Apple computers as a general tool for your child because you are getting a similar computer as the gaming laptop above, without any gaming capabilities (because the graphics card is integrated and not good enough). If your child doesn’t care about gaming and you want something that will last 6-7 years, a Mac may be a good investment. Also if you are really serious about coding in Swift and creating apps for the App Store, you pretty much have to have a Mac. In that case, consider this one!

  • Razer Huntsman Elite Gaming Keyboard

    If your child is using a desktop computer for gaming and coding, you may want to consider investing in a more durable and ergonomic keyboard. This Razer Huntsman keyboard uses Optomechanical switches instead of the typical mechanical switches. The Optomechanical switch executes commands with a beam of light. Since the speed of light is faster than anything else, the keys provide an ultra-fast response. The wrist cushion helps provide support and relief from pain that can follow extended periods of time on the computer. If you’d like more info on coding keyboards you can check out our blog post about them, here.

  • Sphero SPRK+

    This is an app-enabled robot ball with programmable sensors and LED Lights It can help kids learn JavaScript, Scratch & Swift. Powered by the Sphero Edu app, you can program SPRK+ across several platforms using JavaScript. Not to mention, it’s super FUN!

  • Vilos Micro:bit

    The Microbit is a tiny computer that lets you get creative with digital technology. Code it, customize it, and control it from anywhere. Microbit has simple and advanced features like controller buttons, motion detector, compass, and sensors. Use a combination of block-based and text-based coding to create unique projects using this tiny hardware!

  • Arduino

    Arduino circuit boards are a hobbyist phenomenon, and can be used to control electronic devices like cameras, LEDs, alarm clocks, etc. It has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz quartz crystal, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header and a reset button. Arduino is an open-source hardware, software, and content platform with a worldwide community of over 30 million active users!

  • Coding Projects in Python

    This book is a great resource for kids who are ready to start learning Python! It has step-by-step instructions that teach essential coding basics like loops and conditionals, and outline 14 fun and exciting projects. The book aslo includes a script that cracks secret codes, a quiz to challenge family and friends, a matching game, and more!

  • JavaScript for Kids

    This book is a great introduction that teaches programming essentials through patient, step-by-step examples paired with funny illustrations. You’ll begin with the basics, like working with strings, arrays, and loops, and then move on to more advanced topics, like building interactivity with jQuery and drawing graphics with Canvas.

  • The Ultimate Roblox Book

     There are so many games and social worlds to create with Roblox, and this guide gives you the advice you need to get started. With everything from instructions for playing the games to tips on creating your own games and worlds to the basics of coding it can can help you to become a top Roblox designer!

  • Girls Who Code

    This book was written by the founder of the Girls Who Code Foundation. It has dynamic artwork, down-to-earth explanations of coding principles, and real-life stories of girls and women working at places like Pixar and NASA, this graphically animated book shows what a huge role computer science plays in our lives and how much fun it can be!

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