Introduction to Coding
Code • Create • Learn • Grow
A first coding adventure: children craft interactive stories in ScratchJr and build a personalised game.
- Junior Infants–1st Class · ages 4–7
- 60 minutes
- Being a digital learner
- Being creative
Online workshops · Primary schools and libraries
Coding and STEM workshops for primary schools and libraries
Workshops we run online, for your class to join from school.
Find a workshop for your curriculum focus
Starting a new curriculum area this year? Pick it below to see the workshops that support it.
Curriculum area
Stage
No workshop matches that combination. Make an enquiry and tell us what you are looking for.
How the workshops fit the primary curriculum
Key competencies
Each card names the key competencies from the Primary Curriculum Framework that children use in the workshop, such as being a digital learner or being creative.
The class teacher stays central
The Wellbeing specification says external facilitators work under the guidance and supervision of the class teacher, who stays with the children at all times. Our workshops run the same way.
Flexible Time
The Primary Curriculum Framework gives every class Flexible Time each month: 5 hours at Stage 1, 6 hours at Stage 2 and 7 hours at Stages 3 and 4. Each school decides how best to use it, and a workshop can be part of that.
What Schools Are Saying About Our Workshops
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
Students were very motivated and engaged throughout. They all managed to follow the clear steps and code an arcade game. They felt a sense of pride and success after.
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
The workshop aligned to goals in digital literacy.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Yes. The facilitator was prepared and clear. All children could follow his instructions. He interacted in a firm but supportive way with the children. The children were fully engaged and achieved success.
Claire
North Kildare Educate Together
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
The students were completely engaged from start to finish! There were audible gasps in the classroom when their LED lights responded to the instructions given to them.
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
I found it a good way to incorporate STEAM into the classroom.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Yes. It was an age appropriate and engaging introduction to coding.
Sharon Morrissey
Scoil Phadraig Naofa
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
There was great student engagement, excitement, learning about coding and having fun!
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
It introduced the children to coding (and some teachers too!)
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Yes! It was child centred, fun and easy to follow. Wonderful Workshop!
Sarah Mather
St Conleths NS
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
I wasn't prepared for the level of engagement from the students, as it can be a niche area of learning. All children were engrossed in the workshop - excellent listening, relevant questions to support and extend their understanding and also the level of enjoyment. It was fun!
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
Excellent introduction tp how coding could be incorporated into our new PMC but also other areas of the curriculum e.g. gaeilge.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Most definitely! It was wonderful to watch them so engrossed in their learning.
Grainne Keane
Duagh NS
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
The children were very excited to learn new skills, they were very engaged throughout the workshop and afterwards many wanted to know how to code on their own devices at home.
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
It promoted and developed the Digital literacy of the children and supported their growing interest and confidence in coding.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Yes. It was pitched at an appropriate level for the children, the children were actively engaged and were given time to experiment and be creative with the skills that were taught.
Becky Leahy
Scoil Phadraig Naofa
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
First class absolutely loved their introduction to coding. Alan was great at going through the process step by step and waiting for them to be fully engaged before moving on. He also let them have free time to be creative at the end of the lesson.
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
It was great to see the students become more digitally literate.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
I would absolutely recommend this workshop to others as it was age appropriate, relaxed, engaging and fun for the children.
Emma Moran
Scoil Phadraig Naofa
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
The children were very excited and learned new skills. I also learned a lot which I can use going forward in the class.
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
Updated my own coding skills. Meets stem curricular goals.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Yes, the children loved it and can use the skills going forward and work on them.
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Nicola Clarke
St Pauls NS
What impact did the coding workshop have on your students?
They loved the coding workshop, it was perfectly planned with their age and interests in mind. They were really excited to learn new skills and are dying to expand on the newly acquired ones. It allowed them to combine art with technology also as they designed their own rockets and enemies.
How did the workshop support your teaching goals?
We have been looking at ways to combine technology with art this year and this was ideal with allowing them design the rockets and enemies it brought in an aspect of digital drawing.
Would you recommend this workshop to other educators? Why?
Absolutely. The children were extremely engaged. Alan was really well prepared, patient and kind with the children and encouraged them all the way through
Clodagh Doyle
Scoil Phadraig Naofa
Book a workshop
Make an enquiry and we will be in touch to plan the visit with you.