IRSA K-12 Data Science Education Series: Scratch Programming Camp
A half-day, hands-on workshop that introduced students in grades 4-6 (ages 9-12) to programming with Scratch, a visual coding language. No prior coding experience was needed, and every participant went home with a game they built.
IRSA K-12 Data Science Education Series: Scratch Programming Camp
About the camp
The Scratch Programming Camp was the first event of the IRSA K-12 Data Science Education Series, which brings data science and statistics to local K-12 students. Through Scratch, participants practiced problem solving and algorithmic thinking, the same skills behind data science, machine learning and AI.
Program
- Scratch basics, loops and movement, building an apple-catching game
- Variables, building a Flappy Bird-style game
- Open coding, with an optional self-playing version of the apple-catching game
- Lunch, open coding and optional presentations
Instructors
Jeremiah Chi and Lachlan Gaspard of St. Paul Academy and Summit School led the camp, with high school mentors from a game development club, under the supervision of University of Minnesota faculty.
The camp was organized by IRSA and the School of Statistics, University of Minnesota. For questions about the K-12 series, contact Tianxi Li ([email protected]).
