3-Hour Coding Workshop for Children's University: Code Your Hero!

Organiser: The Maths Society (TMS)

When

What

Introducing "Code Your Hero!" – A 3-Hour Introductory Coding Workshop for Children’s University Schools

We’re excited to offer “Code Your Hero!” — a dynamic 3-hour coding workshop designed specifically for Children’s University participants. This enrichment session can be delivered directly at your school, giving students a hands-on introduction to coding in a fun, meaningful way.

At the heart of this workshop is our commitment to equal opportunities. We’re passionate about breaking down barriers and making coding accessible to all children, regardless of background.

"Code Your Hero!" isn't just about learning to code — it's about building essential life skills. Aligned with the Skills Builder Framework, the workshop helps children strengthen skills such as problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and communication. It’s a powerful step toward helping young people make informed, confident choices about their futures.

We’d love to bring this opportunity to your school and inspire the next generation of digital creators.

Course Details:

• Suitable for Year 5 and Year 6
• Class Size: 20 students per class
• Location: School computer rooms
• Objectives:
  • Introduce fundamental programming concepts: sequences, events, loops, variables, and conditionals.
  • Familiarize students with the Scratch interface.
  • Enable students to create an interactive "Hero" project.
  • Foster creativity, problem-solving, and storytelling through coding.
• Materials (provided by the school):
  • Computers with internet access (one per student)
  • Smartboard for demonstrations
  • Access to Google
  • 
    

Curriculum (3 hours):

The workshop follows a structured, project-based learning approach, guiding students through the creation of their own "Hero" project in Scratch. It covers:

• (30 mins) Introduction and Hero Concept: Icebreaker, discussion of heroes and storytelling, introduction to the project.
• (60 mins) Building the Hero's World (Scratch Basics): Navigating Scratch, creating sprites and backdrops, basic movement.
• (60 mins) Hero Powers and Story (Coding Core Concepts): Events, sequences, loops, dialogue, sound effects, and potentially variables.
• (30 mins) Project Sharing and Wrap-up: Student presentations (optional), review of concepts, further learning resources, Q&A.

Skills Developed:

This workshop fosters a range of valuable skills, including:

• Computational Thinking: Breaking down problems into smaller steps, identifying patterns, and developing algorithmic solutions.
• Problem-Solving: Debugging code, finding creative solutions to challenges, and persevering through difficulties.
• Creativity: Designing and developing their own hero stories and interactive projects.
• Logical Reasoning: Understanding and applying logical concepts like sequences, loops, and conditional statements.
• Digital Literacy: Gaining familiarity with the Scratch interface and basic coding principles.
• Communication & Collaboration: Sharing projects and discussing ideas (optional).
• Storytelling & Narrative: Developing narratives and incorporating them into their projects.

Cost:

The cost is £10 per child per hour. Here are some examples:

• 20 pupils: £600
• 60 pupils: £1800
• 90 pupils: £2700

Key Advantages:

• Structured Curriculum: A ready-made, engaging skill based curriculum.
• Project-Based Learning: Focus on a specific project ("Code Your Hero") for meaningful learning.
• Storytelling Focus: Integrates coding with storytelling for broader appeal.