Computer Science Education Week is upon us, and that means more opportunities to teach our kids about the machines on which we play and work. From online games to the internet itself, computers are responsible for many of the things we use every day. Aside from being a useful teaching tool, computers also help us experience cool new things that expand our creativity.

Teachers, partners, and cities: Enjoy our free Hour of Code activity classes for groups of 10+ students. Just pick the subject you're interested in and contact us. We'll get in touch to get you all set up for your live Zoom sessions. Parents, check out the activities for your kids below!

What is Computer Science Education Week?

Computer Science Education Week is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to better understand computers and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers and other partners in the field. It’s an opportunity to discuss the role that computers play in our lives. It’s also a chance to show students how computers can become part of their outside interests and future careers.

Why is Computer Science Week important?

Kids who enjoy playing online games with their friends and learning to code can benefit from classes and tutorials that teach them basic skills. Offering activities that help maintain their interest in computers, both in and out of the classroom, will engage them even further. Taking part in Computer Science Week is also useful for kids who may wish to pursue studies in computer science.

When is Computer Science Week 2023?

Computer Science Week will be held from December 4-10.

Discover Free Computer Science Education Week Activities

Explore a few of the best free ways to get your school, county, or children involved in Computer Science Week this year. Contact us at support(at)createandlearn(dot)us to set your free coding class up (for groups of 10 students or more)!

1. Learn Scratch Coding with Kahoot

Join us for a fun-filled hour to play a set of Kahoot! games and review coding concepts students have learned in Scratch coding classes. We will play 3 levels - starting from level 1, all the way to Level 3. Everyone is welcome to join. You can play Kahoot! from a phone, tablet, or computer.

2. Minecraft Coding Intro - TimeTravel!

Does your child love Minecraft? This awesome 1-hour free event will introduce your child to another dimension of Minecraft - Learn Coding!. We will setup Minecraft Education first and then get everyone started on a self-guided tutorial that teaches basics of block coding on Minecraft. Your child will be introduced to Minecraft coding by completing a series of challenges with code to save the future by solving mysterious mishaps in time.

3. Free Intro to Scratch Coding

Geared for grades 2-5, this beginner coding class explores the fundamentals of the Scratch interface during an online live tutorial. Kids can see programs created by other students and work together to build their own game. The small group setting (max 5 students per class) lends itself to plenty of hands-on, interactive learning.

4. Creative Minecraft Building

Join this free, live virtual event to start creating with one of the most powerful elements in Minecraft - Redstone. Through a series of fun activities and puzzle-solving, students will be introduced to how different power sources such as Redstone blocks, torches, and switches can be used to power blocks around them in different ways. These skills will form the foundation of creating more advanced structures that can be powered up or automated. The same event is run once every month.

5. AI Explorers – Introduction

Kids in grades 4-6 who are interested in AI can register for this free online event. From self-driving cars, humanoids to AI generated art and ChatGPT, AI is one of the fast growing areas in technology. What is AI? What are some of the cool things it can do? Join this event to learn fun cutting-edge AI applications created by companies like Google and Nvidia. Your child will enjoy lots of group discussions, interaction with the instructor, and hands-on projects.

6. Beginner Roblox Game Coding

Join this fun free intro class for students in grades 3-8 to get a taste of what creating Roblox games is like, and start learning Roblox coding! This class is designed for students who have not had any prior experience with Roblox Studio, the official tool for building Roblox games. We help students install and activate Roblox Studio, and go through a step-by-step tutorial to build an interactive Obby game with different shapes, colors, and materials!

7. Accelerated Scratch – Intro to Coding for Middle Schoolers

Kids in grades 5-9 will relish the chance to learn Scratch…from scratch! In under one hour, they’ll be able to practice core coding concepts and build their own project. Geared for middle and high schoolers, this live online class is a confidence booster for budding coders.

8. Free Intro to Python Coding

Students who excelled in Scratch can take their block coding experience and advance to the next level with text-based coding. Designed for grades 5-9, this intermediate-level class will focus on how to animate and draw with Python. Kids will also build their own story project while creating animation.

9. Minecraft Escape Estate

In this small group live online class for students in grades 2-7, kids can learn basic coding concepts as they escape Dr. Breakowski’s mysterious mansion! Plus they'll solve puzzles using computational thinking to unlock secrets, open trap doors, and reveal hidden clues.

10. Dance Party

In this fun live online session led by an expert, students code a dance party with music by Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, and more, to share with their friends! This small group class is best for students in grades 2-5, and introduces kids to beginner-friendly coding concepts.

Try Fun Computer Science Week Ideas

Looking for even more ideas? We have you covered.

Plan Computer Science Education Week Activities

Now you know how you can celebrate Computer Science Week, what activities you can do, and what free classes your students can take. Up next, read all about the best computer science classes for kids.