Coding Projects in Scratch

Labeled as Step-by-step visual guides to coding, these DK guides are certainly the friendliest introductions to programming Ive seen! Designed for younger students new to coding, these books serve as introductory-level guides for both programming in general as well as Scratch and Python. A brief introduction to the language and topic sets the stage before students embark upon projects of gradually-increasing complexity. Relevant illustrations (helpful and humorous!), line each and every page, accentuating the given topic and adding a touch of fun to keep kids engaged. Text is divided into simple bullet paragraphs which play off the provided drawings perfectly. Once actual projects come into play, these paragraphs are numbered and illustrated with screenshots to mimic what the student will be seeing on the screen. Captions, arrows, and other guides provide further aid during crucial steps.

In addition to these simple nuances, the material within each book is more than adequate for introductory coding. A rather lengthy Getting Started/First Steps chapter in each book provides basic tools and an intro to the language within the context of simple programs. Students are briefly introduced to a concept or function, and then they follow along in creating a program that uses that concept or function. Once its created, students are usually asked to modify it to add greater functionality rather than write a new program. Finally, students apply the knowledge theyve gained to create cohesive games and projects. Its a wonderfully seamless system, and certainly one I wish I had in my early coding books!