The Principia Space Diary aims to help children find out more about the Principia mission, to strengthen literacy and digital literacy skills and engage children in STEM learning....

The resource includes Scratch blocks which can be printed and laminated to allow children to create block algorithms visually and in a hands-on way. A great resource to introduce the idea of Scratch blocks to Key Stage One students in the hope that they will become familiar with the system when they reach Key Stage...

These three resources, from the National Strategies, focus on solving problems.

Logic problems and puzzles...

This activity can be used to introduce pupils to, or consolidate understanding of computing programming. Pupils will learn how programming is used on Mars and to understand the importance of this before using the programme ‘Python’ to complete their own computer code. This activity as part of the ‘Roving with...

In activity children simply give directions to a “robot” (either an adult or another child) and find out which instructions the robot is able to follow, and how their instructions are taken literally. It allows children to...

Ideal for a Halloween-themed coding lesson! Using sparkles to mirror a candle in a pumpkin – can you make it flicker or only come on once it’s dark?

This handy guide sheet shows how the format () method can be used in a variety of situations: • Inserting values into strings, • Formatting layout and alignment, • Displaying numbers with specific formats A print-out-and-keep quick guide shows all the options available when using the format ‘mini-language’.

For students with some prior experience of using simple For and While loops, this intermediate-level resource explores how they can be used for more complex coding while maintaining efficiency.

Exercises include arithmetic applications of While loops, and development of simple For loops to be usable in more...

This intermediate-level resource for those learning to program with Python 3.x looks at conditional statements including ELSE and ELIF. The use of arithmetic and logical operators is covered, along with tricks and tips for more efficient and fault-free code.

An explanation of how different data values and...

This intermediate-level resource for those learning to program with Python 3.x looks at lists (called arrays in other languages), strings and tuples. It covers the main features of these sequences, including the differences between them, how the elements of each are referenced, and some of the functions and...

This activity is a space-themed coding project for learners, combining six to ten hours of STEM linked learning. These lessons use Scratch game creation to explore space and interplanetary missions.

A lesson plan that takes the students through the algorithm to making a paper airplane. It consists mainly of a worksheet task to correctly sequence the steps in making a paper airplane, in doing so they must discard any superfluous...

A lesson plan that takes the students through the algorithm to plant a seed. It consists mainly of a worksheet task to correctly sequence the steps in planting a seed, in doing so they must discard any superfluous information. The idea is then that they give their algorithm to another child for that child to follow...

Ideal for a Halloween-themed coding lesson! Using sparkles to imitate eyes in a portrait – but can be made harder using LDRs or making the lights fade in and out.