After School Programs
Bits ‘n Bytes
Bits ‘n Bytes Online is an after-school program for students in grades 3-7 to explore coding languages and tools, computational thinking, and digital literacy. Provided in collaboration between Palo Alto College and Youth Code Jam, participants will enjoy online activities like virtual scavenger hunts, coding custom characters, practicing email etiquette, animation tutorials, typing competitions, and more!
Together, we’ll take creativity and computer skills to the next level. Join us via Zoom for live sessions at 4:30 p.m. CT on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Registration closes for each session at noon (12 p.m.) CT on the day of the program.
Thank you to our partner, Youth Code Jam for their generous support.
Session information and registration
Session 1: Monday, March 15, 2021: Sudoku Puzzles
Session 2: Wednesday, March 17, 2021: Program Design: Fairytale Adventure
Session 3: Monday, March 22, 2021: Reverse Word Search Puzzles
Session 4: Wednesday, March 24, 2021: Program Design: Draw a Feast
Session 1: Monday, April 26, 2021: Animate a Sprite
- Students will learn how to create a realistic walking animation that they can use in any video game project.
Session 2: Wednesday, April 28, 2021: Touchdown
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In this lesson, students will code a mini football game where their player must score a touchdown before being tackled by the opposing team.
Session 3: Monday, May 3, 2021: Space Turret
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The starbase is under attack from a rogue cluster of meteors. You are the last line of defense to blast them out of the sky. In this program, we will create a game that will create new clones of a sprite, make sprites move, shoot projectiles, and interact with each other.
Session 4: Wednesday, May 5, 2021: Pocket Pet
- Inspired by the popular '90's toy, students will learn how to make their own virtual pocket pet that they can feed and play with (via the game controllers, of course)!
Technology Requirements: Students will need a laptop or desktop computer with WiFi access. Students can use a tablet device to work with Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade editor, but may have some issues running or interacting with their programs.
Session 1: Monday, May 10, 2021: Nonogram puzzles
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Students will learn about and how to solve nonogram puzzles.
Session 2: Wednesday, May 12, 2021: Design and Code a Program
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Students are given a prompt for a coding program. They must plan what their program will look like, either with the class or on their own, and then turn those plans into code using a block-code editor, such as Scratch, Snap!, Makecode Arcade, Beetle Blocks, etc.
Session 3: Monday, May 17, 2021: Self-referential puzzles
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Students will learn about and how to solve self-referential puzzles.
Session 4: Wednesday, May 19, 2021: Design and Code a Program
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In this activity, students are given a prompt for a coding program. They must plan what their program will look like, either with the class or on their own, and then turn those plans into code using a block-code editor, such as Scratch, Snap!, Makecode Arcade, Beetle Blocks, etc.
Technology Requirements: Students will need a laptop or desktop computer with WiFi access.
Session 1: Monday, May 24, 2021: Ninja Training
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Students will create a program to help their ninja character improve their speed and dodging skills.
Session 2: Wednesday, May 26, 2021: Floating through Space
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Students will learn a little bit about physics, specifically how gravity affects their character’s movement.
Session 3: Tuesday, June 1, 2021: Sketchpad
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Students will combine art and coding with this activity by learning how to make their own drawing program using Tynker.
Session 4: Wednesday, June 2, 2021: Life on Mars
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While exploring Mars, their character discovers alien life! In this activity, students will use code to tell the story of that first meeting.
Register for all 2021 Bits ‘n Bytes Online Series sessions! |
Contact Information |
Erron Gonzalez |