The ‘Hour of Code™’ is an initiative by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming and this year will be celebrated in Computer Science Education Week, the 9th – 15th December 2019. Try a one-hour tutorial designed for all ages in over 45 languages. Join millions of students and teachers in over 180 countries starting with an Hour of Code.

Now in its fourth year there are even more resources out there for schools to use free of charge. The Hour of Code initiative is a really good opportunity for schools that are not that confident in following the computing curriculum to try it out with students for just one hour as well as some good activities for those that are already teaching it. 

You can run your own Hour of Code in your school in just 6 easy steps:

1. Choose your Hour of Code activity
2. Sign up your classroom
3. Plan your technology needs – computers are optional
4. Spread the word to students and parents
5. Celebrate your Hour of Code
6. Keep learning – go beyond the Hour of Code.

Download this preparation guide for more information.

On the Hour of Code website there are activities created by many partners for a variety of subjects so that you can bring an hour of code into any lesson, for students, and teachers, of any ability. There are Self-led tutorial activities and Lesson plans for Teacher-led activities, head over to hourofcode.com/uk/learn to see all the activities available to use, for free and with no account logins. Alongside the activities are a number of resources including videos and printable posters that can be downloaded and shared to promote the Hour of Code and the importance of computing in schools.

Our turn IT on consultants will be supporting their schools with Hour of Code during the week of 9th-15th December, curriculum consultants will be using the resources with classes and our technical consultants will be on hand to show staff how to find the resources and get started in the classroom.

Be sure to share your Hour of Code activities on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #HourofCode