Grades 6 & 7: Game Development Adventures

Our sixth and seventh graders have been diving into the exciting world of game development using Microsoft MakeCode Arcade, transforming from players into creators! Students have explored essential game development concepts including sprites, collisions, projectiles, platforms, and event handling.

The highlight of their learning journey was designing their own platform game levels from scratch. Students strategically placed different platform blocks, positioned rewards and enemies throughout their levels, and carefully crafted pathways leading to the finish. Each level turned into a unique puzzle, reflecting individual creativity and problem-solving approaches.

To develop critical thinking skills, students were tasked with evaluating six platform level designs created by other students. This evaluation process encouraged them to analyze different design approaches and think critically about game mechanics and level construction.

The engagement in these classes has been remarkable. After all, who doesn't like to play?

Grade 8: Web Design & Programming Foundations

Our eighth graders began exploring web development, learning to write HTML and CSS code to create their own web pages. Students have discovered how websites are structured and styled, getting hands-on experience with the building blocks of the World Wide Web.

In the second half of the semester, students worked through Code.org's coding challenges, learning fundamental programming concepts including conditional structures and loops. These core programming skills help them develop logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Watching these students tackle increasingly complex coding problems with determination and creativity has been truly rewarding. They're building the foundational skills that will serve them well in any future technology endeavors.

Global Connections & Challenges

This semester, all our middle school computer science students participated in two exciting global initiatives that connected them with peers worldwide.

During Code.org's Hour of AI, our students joined millions of their peers in exploring artificial intelligence concepts, gaining valuable exposure to one of today's most transformative technologies.

Our students also took on the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge, demonstrating remarkable dedication and effort as they tackled complex problem-solving tasks designed to test their computational thinking skills. It was great to see them put forth their best efforts on these challenging problems.

These experiences broadened their understanding of computer science and exposed them to different aspects of technology and problem-solving.