Hello!

Hour of Code season has arrived, and we’re excited to unveil new activities from our partners!

With over 150 new tutorials, and the ability to filter by grade, experience level, and classroom hardware, everyone can find the perfect activity. We even have new activities that work offline or without computers. (And, your favorites from last year are still here.)

But that’s not all—in a few weeks, we’ll announce a very special new Code.org tutorial. Stay tuned (and get ready to groove)!

And, today we’re unveiling a brand new activity from Code.org and Microsoft: Minecraft Voyage Aquatic! Voyage Aquatic takes learners on an aquatic adventure to find treasure and solve puzzles with coding. Minecraft teamed up with four YouTube creators–AmyLee33, Netty Plays, iBallisticSquid, and Tomohawk–for this year’s Minecraft Hour of Code. These creative YouTubers guide participants through 12 unique challenges through caves, ruins, and underwater reefs to solve puzzles and learn coding concepts such as loops and conditionals, two fundamental concepts in computer science. Voyage Aquatic encourages students to think creatively, try different coding solutions, and apply what they learn in this mysterious underwater world!

The tutorial also includes a ‘free play’ level for participants to apply what they learn in the prior puzzles and use coding to build imaginative underwater creations. And of course, Minecraft Designer and Minecraft Adventurer are always available to play!

Sign up your classroom to get posters and robots
Be sure to sign up your Hour of Code event, because when you do, you’ll receive a discount on a set of new, inspirational posters and stickers for your classroom. This year, we’re shipping through Amazon Prime in the U.S. to make delivery simpler and cheaper. Internationally, we have all the files available to print your own.

Want to introduce robots or physical computing kits to your students? Our generous partners Ozobot, littleBits, Kano, Thimble, Giggle Bot, and Roots Robotics are donating sets to over 100 U.S. classrooms. Sign up your class for a chance to be selected.

Find the right activity for your class
Our teacher committee has tested every activity on HourOfCode.com, and they’re listed in a teacher-recommended order.

You can find activities designed to reinforce math, language arts, science, social studies, and art. Or try some of the favorites from our partners:

For beginners of all ages. Start coding with blocks...
An Unusual Discovery (from CS First with Scratch)
Two characters meet in a world and discover a surprising object. What happens next? With Scratch and CS First, anyone can create their own unique story with code.

Animate an Adventure Game (from Scratch)
Send your favorite Cartoon Network characters on a quest, from the farthest reaches of the universe to the edge of Craig's creek. Unlock secret treasures and discover new characters while creating an adventure game.

Go further with Python or JavaScript
Landscape Generator (from Tynker)
Use Python's pen drawing feature to compose a landscape using code. Use the landscape items already created for you or design your own structures. Publish and share your creations!

App Lab (from Code.org)
Create your own app in JavaScript using blocks or text. You'll make a simple app with buttons, images, sounds, and multiple screens that you can share with your friends or publish to a public gallery. If you've already done some coding with blocks, take your skills to the next level.

For Pre-Readers
Make your own mazes with Kodable
Kodable now includes a digital Maker Space! Make levels, design games, or build characters. Choose your activity and start creating with Kodable! Featuring JavaScript for upper elementary.

codeSpark Academy with the Foos: Create Games
Ever wanted to design and code your own video game? Choose from two game kits that guide you through creating and coding a Mario-style video game using codeSpark Academy's no words interface. Beginner coders and pre-readers welcome!

Don’t have computers? Or reliable internet access?
Try these Hour of Code activities or any of Code.org’s unplugged activities with your class!

And there’s more...see the full list of activities on the Hour of Code site.

We invite administrators and staff to join this opportunity. Be with us for all virtual chats or come when you can! The more you attend, the more PD points you earn.

Our first Twitter Book Chat will be from the SHARP Lab for anyone new to Twitter chats. This will help you get comfortable with Tweetdeck and Twitter Chats!

Don will be with us, virtually, for most of the chats, and his daughter is planning on joining us at all our chats!

Each chat (#MVeLearn) will be on Thursday night (7:00pm) for an hour before the #INeLearn state chat (8:00pm)

• Jan. 10 - Chapter 1 - Why Innovate?
• Jan. 17 - Chapter 2 and 3 - Creating a Culture of Innovation and Leadership / There is no Plan
• Jan. 24 - Chapter 4 - Six Building Blocks of Innovative Learning
• Jan 31 - Chapter 5 and 6 - Social Media and Teachers / Social Media and Students
• Feb. 7 - Chapter 7 - Getting Started with Social Media
• Feb. 14 - Chapter 8 - Opportunities are Everywhere
• Feb. 21 - Chapter 9 - Student Voices (Special Guest Ava Wettrick)
• Feb. 28 - Chapter 10 - Moving Forward