Panda Programmer provides a multi-disciplinary approach in teaching computer programming skills to children. While designing our coding curriculum for kids, we utilized mathematics, logic, teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity to help children learn to code! Once introduced to computer programming, our students pursue it with incredible enthusiasm — “Instead of just playing video games, have your kids design and create them!”
Scratch is a block-based visual programming language and website targeted primarily at children to help learn code. Users of the site can create online projects using a block-like interface. The service is developed by the MIT Media Lab, has been translated into 70+ languages, and is used in most parts of the world. It is fully a "real programming language" and features variables, boolean logic, functions, operators, and powerful graphics capabilities.Read more about Scratch
Scratch Jr is a great introduction to block programming and logical thinking for our younger students (typically grades 2 and below) to get the knack of programming. Scratch JR students do not nead to type in order to master the topic.Read more about ScratchJr
Python is a high-level and general-purpose programming language. Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability and efficiency. Python is the programming language of choice for many professional computer programmers.Read more about Python
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. JavaScript is a scripting language used to create and control dynamic website content,including animated graphics and interactive forms.Read more about HTML
Projects in Advanced Scratch can involve sophisticated functions, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, 3 dimensional graphics, and more.Read more about Advanced Scratch
Scratch is the heart of our coding curriculum, being a high-level block-based visual programming language. Scratch Jr. is primarily for students who are too young for Scratch (typically grades 2 and below), who may struggle with the vocabulary. Students whom complete our coding fundamentals in Scratch may advance to pursue one of three options: Advanced Scratch, Python, or Web Development (HTML and JavaScript).
Recreational gaming is not part of our program beyond students testing and playing their own creations. Our focus is on creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. We help our students turn their own imagination into games, animated stories, and personal creations.
Our classes are a combination of college seminar (in terms of open discussions, presenting and defending one’s own work, and collaboration) and Montessori classroom (helping one another, flexible curriculum and focus, and collaboration). On-going classes accept students of all backgrounds and experience levels, ages K-8. Our individualized coding curriculum allows us to seamlessly assimilate all students, regardless of skill level, as they share ideas and collaborate on projects.
We teach girls and boys the fundamentals of coding by making it fun. Our hands-on, project-based approach wins rave reviews from parents and kids alike. Our coding curriculum covers a variety of topics, and reinforce important concepts as they experience different programming languages.
In our classes, we introduce and cover:
– Animation and graphics design
– Events-driven processing
– Control structures
– Serial vs. parallel execution of code
– Debugging
– Variables
– Lists/Arrays
– Cartesian coordinates
– Modifying and augmenting existing games
– Designing, creating, and programming new games
Prerequisites: None! Our classes are designed to be a fun educational, hands-on experience that combines a child’s passion for computers with top instructors and exciting curriculum to create amazing things. All Panda Programmer classes are meant to be enjoyed by children ages 5 and above without any previous experience. Coding Club classes are meant to be enjoyed by students in grades 6 to 8, also without any previous experience. Students with intermediate skills will be challenged with more advanced tasks.
Recommended: Scratch Account! Allows student to save their work and continue it from anywhere. Click here for Instructions
