Coding is a big deal right now. Worldwide, 36 million kids have taken part in “Hour of code” activities, helping them become active, rather than passive users of technology and starting learning that might one day help secure a job in our increasingly tech-driven world.
Even if your kids don’t go on to code for living, a basic understanding of programming concepts improves problem-solving and thinking skills which are both transferable and empowering. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates says that: “Learning to write programs stretches your mind and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.“
Platforms like Scratch and Alice let children (and adults) create their own games and animations using simplified coding methods. But not all kids can or want to jump straight into these sort of environments. For them, there are plenty of games around that will teach the basics of programming in a fun and accessible way.
We’ve sorted through some of the ever-widening options available, including a few still in development, so you don’t have to. They cut across multiple platforms — iOS, Android, PC, Mac, even board games — and many are free to pick up and play straight away.
Below you will find links to over one thousand computer programming project ideas. Use this list to hone your coding skills or start building your online portfolio. Beginner Projects List on Reddit (26 projects) Beginner Projects List on Github (96 projects) Code Abbey (156 projects) Coding Bat (140 projects).
Lightbot and Lightbot Jr.
Who it’s for: Ages 4-8 (Lightbot Jr.), 9+ (Lightbot)
Platforms: Web browsers, iOS, Android
Pricing: Free (browser), $3 (iOS/Android)
Find out more: Browser game, iTunes, Google Play
The expert view: “Although it seems simple, Lightbot foreshadows some interesting aspects of more sophisticated computer programming” — Fritz Ruehr, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Willamette University, Ore.
Platforms: Web browsers, iOS, Android
Pricing: Free (browser), $3 (iOS/Android)
Find out more: Browser game, iTunes, Google Play
The expert view: “Although it seems simple, Lightbot foreshadows some interesting aspects of more sophisticated computer programming” — Fritz Ruehr, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Willamette University, Ore.
Above: Many schools use Lightbot to help teach programming basics, and it even has a place in some university curricula.
Lightbot is a programming puzzle game from Danny Yaroslavski, a Canadian university student. The goal is to make your robot light up all of the blue tiles on a 3D grid. The twist is that you have to do this in one run by programming your robot with a series of instructions.
Yaroslavski says that Lightbot teaches concepts like planning, testing, debugging, procedures, and loops. Your kids will just enjoy getting the endearing robot to light up everything in one turn.
You can play a free version, suitable for an hour of gameplay, on your mobile device or through your browser. Two full versions of Lightbot, for different age groups, are on sale on iTunes and Google Play.
Code Monkey Island
Who it’s for: Ages 8+
Platforms: Board game
Pricing: $40+
Find out more: Code Monkey Island website, Kickstarter
The expert view: “Code Monkey Island is a crazy-fun board game that introduces kids to programming.” — Educator and technology-access activist Phil Shapiro
Platforms: Board game
Pricing: $40+
Find out more: Code Monkey Island website, Kickstarter
The expert view: “Code Monkey Island is a crazy-fun board game that introduces kids to programming.” — Educator and technology-access activist Phil Shapiro
Above: Code Monkey Island won’t magically make your kids into programmers, but it will ground them in basic concepts.
Brooklyn resident Raj Sidhu wanted to introduce programming basics to kids in a fun way. He chose a low-tech solution for a high-tech problem and embedded concepts like Boolean logic and conditional statements in a family-friendly board game.
Code Monkey Island is straightforward to play and takes about 45 minutes. Players use cards with statements such as, “For each monkey NOT on a rock, move 3 spaces,” to move their troop of monkeys around the island.
Sidhu chose a board game because these bring families together. “I wanted to create an experience that kids, parents, and grandparents could share and in the process allow children to exercise their immense learning capabilities through play,” he said on his Kickstarter page.
Code Monkey Island ran a successful Kickstarter, and copies should ship in August. You can secure one by backing the project for $40 or more.
Kodable
Who it’s for: Ages 5-8
Platforms: iOS
Pricing: Free ($7 for the Pro version)
Find out more: Kodable website, iTunes
The expert view: “Kodable scaffolds programming skills so that young children can learn how to code. They don’t even have to know how to read. ” — Terri Eichholz, teacher of K-5 gifted students, South Central Texas
Platforms: iOS
Pricing: Free ($7 for the Pro version)
Find out more: Kodable website, iTunes
The expert view: “Kodable scaffolds programming skills so that young children can learn how to code. They don’t even have to know how to read. ” — Terri Eichholz, teacher of K-5 gifted students, South Central Texas
Above: KIds are young as 2 use Kodable, according to cofounder Grechen Huebner.
Kodable’s 105 maze-like levels help teach young kids programming concepts like conditions, loops, functions, and debugging.
It avoids using text entirely, making it a great entry point for younger children. Its alien protagonists are fuzzy and colorful and seem to have that kid appeal nailed down.
“Adults are so terrified of programming; it’s this scary thing,” Kodable co-founder Grechen Huebner told TechRepublic. “It’s funny how much adults underestimate kids, and giving them an opportunity to be challenged at such an early age proves how smart they are.”
The free version of Kodable includes the first 45 levels. In-app purchases can unlock more levels and concepts. The $7 Pro version also adds vocabulary lessons and learning guides.
Robozzle
Who it’s for: Ages 6+ (and adults)
Platforms: Web browsers, iOS, Android, Windows phone
Pricing: Free (browser), free to $2 (mobile)
Find out more: Browser game, iTunes, Google Play, Windows store
The expert view: “Robozzle bills itself as a social puzzle game, but to me it’s a fun and interesting way to introduce programming concepts. And perhaps it is a game to get young people interested in programming.” — High school computer-science teacher Alfred Thompson
Platforms: Web browsers, iOS, Android, Windows phone
Pricing: Free (browser), free to $2 (mobile)
Find out more: Browser game, iTunes, Google Play, Windows store
The expert view: “Robozzle bills itself as a social puzzle game, but to me it’s a fun and interesting way to introduce programming concepts. And perhaps it is a game to get young people interested in programming.” — High school computer-science teacher Alfred Thompson
Above: Robozzle looks simple at first but soon reveals its complexities.
If you’re looking for challenge for older kids (or yourself), try Robozzle. It’s a puzzle game that Microsoft programmer Igor Ostrovsky created in his free time.
Robozzle tasks you with guiding a robot through a series of mazes using limited commands. The levels range from those suitable for younger children right up to puzzles that will make seasoned coders scratch their heads.
It’s free to play through browsers (using Silverlight), and community support enables players to create, vote, and comment on new levels.
Versions of Robozzle exist for iOS, Windows Phone 7, and Android. Prices vary.
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I don't know how to program yet. How should I get started?
Do you want to learn how to program or code? Are you worried that it sounds too hard, too complicated, that it will take you too long to learn, or that your school doesn't offer a programming course? Don't worry! There are lots of free resources online that can help you get started and learn to program. You can try it out just for fun or even use programming for a science fair project. Table 1 lists a variety of online resources for different experience levels. If you are a parent or an educator who wants to teach your kids/students to code, but are worried you don't have the appropriate background knowledge, many of these sites will provide great resources for you as well.
Language/Resource | Description | Science Buddies Projects (if applicable) |
Scratch | A 'graphical' programming language where you snap together blocks of code instead of writing lines of text. Great for beginners and making 2D games and animations. | Scratch projects |
Code.org | Website with lots of free resources to help you learn to code, with options for beginners and advanced students. | |
Raspberry Pi | The Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer that comes with many of the programming languages listed here, including Scratch, Sonic Pi, and Python. | Raspberry Pi Projects Kit, available from our partner Home Science Tools |
Sonic Pi | Do you like music? Then learn to code by creating your own songs! | |
MIT App Inventor | Beginner-friendly way to make fully functional apps for smartphones and tablets. | App Inventor projects |
Alice | For intermediate or advanced students, allows you to make 3D animations and simple games. | Alice projects |
Gamestar Mechanic | A simple way to introduce beginners to video-game design. No programming is involved. For an introduction to programming, choose another of the beginner packages. | |
GameMaker | For making 2D video games. Easy to learn for beginners, but lots of additional options and complexity for more experienced programmers. | GameMaker projects |
StarLogo TNG | For intermediate or advanced students, allows you to make 3D animations, games, and simulations of real-world objects. | |
Pygame | For advanced students who already have some programming experience. Pygame is a game-centric version of Python, a more general-purpose programming language. | |
Code Academy | For intermediate to advanced students. Website with lots of free tutorials and online courses for a variety of real-world, text-based programming languages. |
Can I use video and computer games in a science fair project?
Absolutely! First, check if your science fair has a computer science category and check with your teacher or fair organizer about what types of projects will be accepted. You can use a Science Buddies Video & Computer Game Science Project, or come up with one of your own. There are two basic types of gaming-related science projects: computer science projects and sociology projects. See Table 2 for more details.
Type of Gaming-Related Science Project* | Typical Science Fair Category | Aspect(s) of Gaming Covered | Project Idea Examples |
How video and computer games are made | Computer Science; occasionally Human Behavior |
| |
The usefulness and impact of video and computer games | Human Behavior / Sociology |
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*Note: Projects that involve only level design are not accepted as science fair projects. (But other types of competitions do accept them.) To be entered in a science or engineering fair, a project must involve either some form of programming, creation of gaming hardware (like building a joystick), or observing/measuring and analyzing how games impact people or society.
How can I make a good game?
Making a video game is just like creating any other piece of art: you need a vision or idea to work from. But the actual creation process requires planning to make sure that all the parts of the game, like graphics, sound, and the actions players can make, work well together. Following the steps of The Engineering Design Process will help make sure you create a well thought-out, successful, and fun product.
It is also important to spend some time thinking about what will make your video game fun. This is a critical part of designing your game. One entertaining way to learn more about game design and the mechanics used to make different types of games exciting is to explore the free version of Gamestar Mechanic. As part of this website, you can play through their quests and become an apprentice game designer in their game-world before you even start programming.
Where can I publish my video game or program?
Many of the resources listed in Table 1 have online communities where you can publish games/programs for other people to see, download, and play. Check out the website for the language you are using to see if there's a way for you to share your work.
*Important Note: Your personal data is extremely valuable, particularly on the Internet, and can be used against you if someone else gets a hold of it. Keep it protected. Never give your real name, address, phone number, the name of your school, or a picture of yourself to anyone online. Email addresses, user account names, and screen names should not be your real name, the name of your school, or some combination of the two. For more Internet Safety tips, visit the Science Buddies Internet Safety Guide.
My parent(s)/teacher(s) do not believe video games can ever be educational. Can you convince them otherwise?
Showing your parent or teacher the information on this webpage might help. You can also show them the Math and Computer Science Careers section of our site. Many good, high-paying jobs require programming skills!
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