By Nancy Hecker

 Ryan Seacrest explains:  6

 It is fun!  Requires problem-solving, creativity, and communication skills  Utilizes exploration and play  Allows and requires students to make decisions  Appeals to a variety of age groups  Prepares the way for career opportunities

 iPad app  Free  For pre-k to third grade  Manipulate daisy to work through challenges

 iPhone/iPad  $2.99  For pre-k to third grade  Manipulate the turtle through challenges

 iPad  Free  For students ages 8-12  Kids select characters or create text objects and manipulate them by dragging and droppings method blocks

 Web-based  Free  For students ages 8-16  Develop animations, interactive stories, and games through drag and drop code blocks  Creations can be shared on the site

 Windows, Mac, Lunux  Free  Similar to Scratch but games can be published to every platform (iOS, Android, Flash, HTML5, Windows, and Mac)

 Web-based  Free  For high school students or older  Uses drag and drop coding blocks to create an Android App

 Windows, Mac, Linux  Free  For older students  3D environment  Kids can see their code behind the projects in the software

 Web-based  Free  Middle school students and older  Students can see the changes they make on a split screen

 Access  Timing during the school day

 Pinola, M. (2013). How and Why to Teach Your Kids to Code. Retrieved from your-kids-to-code your-kids-to-code  Salter, J. (2013). Coding for Kids: Schoolchildren learn computer programming. Retrieved from 460/Coding-for-kids-schoolchildren-learn- computer-programming.html 460/Coding-for-kids-schoolchildren-learn- computer-programming.html  Today. (2013, July 31). Nonprofit teaches kids to write computer code [Video file]. Retrieved from #