Course Overview

As part of this free course you have access to 9 tutorials designed and built by the The Lifelong Kindergarden group at MIT, Media Labs. Explore the concepts of creating and making through playful learning on ScratchJr. Work with your child through each of the tutorials designing animated characters, interactive stories and simple multi-scene conversations.

ScratchJr is a visual programming language designed to introduce coding skills to children ages 5–7. By creating projects in ScratchJr, young children can learn to think creatively, strengthen logical thinking skills and learn to reason systematically, despite not being able to read.  ScratchJr is currently available as a free app for iOS, Android and Chromebook.

ScratchJr is a derivative of the Scratch language (https://scratch.mit.edu), which has been used by over 10 million people worldwide. Coding in Scratch(https://scratch.mit.edu) requires basic reading skills, however, so the creators saw a need for another language which would provide a simplified way to learn coding at a younger age and without any reading required.

About ScratchJr

ScratchJr is designed by The Lifelong Kindergarden group at MIT, Media Labs. The Lifelong Kindergarden group develops new technologies and activities that, in the spirit of the blocks and finger paint of kindergarten, engage people in creative learning experiences. Their ultimate goal is a world full of playfully creative people, who are constantly inventing new possibilities for themselves and their communities. You can learn more about The Lifelong Kindergarden Group at MIT at the following website – Lifelong Kindergarden Group.