How to Be a Coder

Book excerpt: Learn to think like a coder without a computer! Each of the fun craft activities included in this book will teach you about a key concept of computer programming and can be done completely offline. Then you can put your skills into practice by trying out the simple programs provided in the online, child-friendly computer language Scratch. This crafty coding book breaks down the principles of coding into bite-sized chunks that will get you thinking like a computer scientist in no time. Learn about loops by making a friendship bracelet, find out about programming by planning a scavenger hunt, and discover how functions work with paper fortune tellers. Children can then use their new knowledge to code for real by following the clear instructions to build programs in Scratch 3.0. Perfect for kids aged 7-9, the various STEAM activities will help teach children the crucial skills of logical thinking that will give them a head-start for when they begin programming on a computer. Famous scientist pages teach children about coding pioneers, such as Alan Turing and Katherine Johnson, and topic pages, such as the Internet, give kids a wider understanding of the subject. Written by computer science expert Kiki Prottsman, How to be a Coder is so much fun kids won't realize they're learning!