Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. Get started with this Creative Computing curriculum guide.
MIT App Inventor is an innovative beginner's introduction to programming and app creation that transforms the complex language of text-based coding into visual, drag-and-drop building blocks. The simple graphical interface grants even an inexperienced novice the ability to create a basic, fully functional Android app within an hour or less. Get started with lessons and tutorials at AppInventor.org.
Create apps everywhere on all your devices! In the TouchDevelop blocks-based programming environment, users write scripts by tapping on the screen (no need for a separate PC or keyboard). Scripts can perform various tasks similar to regular apps. Any TouchDevelop user can install, run, edit, publish, and share scripts. Teachers can access this Creative Coding through Games and Apps curriculum.
Khan Academy provides self-guided lessons in many content areas, including computing. Users can learn how to create drawings and animations with JavaScript and build webpages with HTML & CSS. Users can also learn about algorithms, the Internet, and cryptography.

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Project GUTS is a STEM program for middle school students, helping teachers integrate CS into science classes. Growing Up Thinking Scientifically means learning to look at the world and ask questions, develop answers to the questions through scientific inquiry, and design solutions to their problems. Students use StarLogo Nova to modify, design, and create models to explore natural phenomena.
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Bootstrap integrates math and computing education to enable equitable access to and success in both subjects for students in grades 6-12. The curricula, pedagogy, and software was designed in tandem to foster learning at depth and to ease adoption. Students learn functional programming in a text-based, Scheme-like language. Code.org also adapted this curriculum with a blocks-based language.

Additional Resources

  • Computational Thinking for Educators: a course to help teachers integrate computational thinking into humanities, math, and science
  • CS Unplugged: off-the-computer activities to learn computing concepts
  • Code.org's Accelerated CS Fundamentals Course: a 20-hour curriculum with a blocks-based programming puzzles and unplugged activities
  • ​Code.org's App Lab: a JavaScript and blocks-based programming environment used to create simple apps
  • Blockly Games: blocks-based programming games (puzzles)
  • ​Pencil Code: a unique switchable editor that lets you program in either blocks or text, to create art, music, games, and stories | Teacher's Manual
  • Code Combat: a text-based programming game (6 different languages)
  • Code Avengers: gamified, self-guided programming lessons in HTML & CSS, JavaScript, and Python
  • Code Academy: self-guided programming lessons in HTML & CSS, JavaScript, and Python  |  View class resources
  • Alice: 3D blocks-based programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story
  • Made w/ Code: a blocks-based programming environment that allows users to create projects, involving animation, music, fashion, and more​
  • LearnToMod: modify ("mod") Minecraft with programming in Blockly and JavaScript
  • Turtle Academy: an online adaptation of the LOGO programming language (supports turtle geometry)
  • Coding Corner: reviews of additional coding platforms & resources
  • Skype in the Classroom: search by subject and age group to arrange a time with a volunteer guest speaker best suited for your class
  • CS Custom Search: search Google for additional materials (such as lesson plans, tutorials, activities, and videos) to support your classroom
  • CSTA's K-8 CS Google+ Community: an online community and discussion forum exclusively for K-8 CS educators

Physical Computing

  • Finch Robots: inexpensive robots designed for CS education (programmable in 20+ languages, have several sensors)
  • MaKey MaKey: connect everyday objects to your computer; great for extending Scratch projects
  • LEGO Mindstorms (EV3 series): LEGO robotics kits that are programmable in a C-based language
  • Arduino: open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software
  • micro:bit: a small device that can be programmed to light up and connect to a number of sensors
  • Ozobots: tiny robots programmable in a Blockly-based language