This article was updated December 3, 2024.
The Hour of Code takes place every year during Computer Science Education Week, which occurs this year December 9-15. It’s designed to get kids excited about coding via brief, enjoyable lessons, typically based on digital games and apps. However, you can also teach coding, STEM, and computer logic with “unplugged” analog lessons, some of which are listed here. We’ve also included free coding curricula for students working at an advanced level.
Most of the following free Hour of Code lessons and activities do not require an account or login. All are easy to access and can enrich your classroom’s computer science and coding curriculum all year round.
Best Free Hour of Code Lessons and Activities
Blockly: Educational Games that Teach Programming
Simple and elegant game-based coding site that allows novice users to quickly jump in and start learning to code, first with blocks, then with text. Each of the eight game categories introduces an important coding concept, from loops and conditionals to functions. Shareable links promote collaboration. No account required.
Bootstrap: Winter Hour of Code
From the not-for-profit Bootstrap organization, this 14-step Winter Hour of Code lesson lets users start at the beginning and build toward understanding and mastery of coding for images. Students can read the explanatory material, or just start editing and running the code. The program alerts them to syntax errors and they can try again. A fun and simple-to-use sandbox that promotes real learning. No account required.
Coding with AI
Is it possible to use AI for learning a subject rather than cheating? Code.org says yes. Its Coding With AI program is a five-lesson course exploring how kids can tap into AI as a learning support and resource. Each standards-based lesson includes a teacher’s guide, agenda, activities, and assessments. Integrated with Google and Microsoft for easy login and digital sharing.
Computer Science Field Guide Interactives
A fun, quirky, and slightly addictive collection of interactives that accompany the free online Computer Science Field Guide. Try the box sorting algorithms, Fitts’ Law experiment, AI trainer, or Viola-Jones Face Detection. Great fun while learning.
Hour of Code lessons from CS First
A modest selection of text, video and unplugged lessons that serves as an excellent introduction to coding or a springboard to further education. No sign-in is required except to save progress.
Code with Anna and Elsa
From code.org, this step-by-step guide allows students to code a fun animation featuring the popular characters from Frozen. Explanatory videos and tooltips help users navigate and complete each step, while the “run” command shows them if they got it right. A free account is not required, but creating an account allows teachers to assign and track work.
Hour of Code Activities
From the innovative nonprofit Code.org, this wealth of Hour of Code lessons and activities is probably the single most useful source online. Each activity is accompanied by a teacher’s guide and includes unplugged activities, lesson plans, extended project ideas, and featured student creations. For an overview of Hour of Code in the classroom, read the how-to guide first. Not sure how to teach computer science without the computer? Check out Code.org’s complete guide to unplugged coding, Computer Science Fundamentals: Unplugged Lessons.
Tinkercad Codeblocks
Block-based coding is a great start for aspiring coders of any age. First create a free account, then explore tutorials on shapes, 3D movement, templates, and much more. Once students have gained some experience, they can try remixing template code, or even create their own.
Free Unplugged Lessons
Sometimes “unplugged” is the best way to teach and learn about coding. These five beginner-friendly free lessons are engaging and educational, helping users learn the principles of artificial intelligence and machine learning. No account is required, but you will need to enter an email address to receive the activities, which are available as Google Slides and PDF printables.
Khan Academy: Hour of Code
Khan Academy’s interactive videos, challenges, and projects make it easy to dive into STEM teaching and learning coding. The clean, easy-to-navigate interface provides step-by-step guidance and resources for coding drawings, webpages, databases, and more. Create a free account to save resources and document your progress. Not sure where to begin? Consult the teachers’ guides, which cover programming with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, and more. Integrates with Google Classroom.
Hour of Code with CodeHS
Ranging from beginner level through advanced, these hour-long tutorials include detailed lesson plans and solutions for teachers as well as clear video instructions for students. If you’d like to go further, check out the extensive free computer science curriculum here.
The Tech Interactive: Computational Thinking
Computational thinking is not just for coding. Learn how the four elements of computational thinking—decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms—can be applied not only to coding, but also to problem-solving across the curriculum. Then check out the CT K12 lessons and activities here.
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Coding Lessons
Twenty coding lessons of increasing difficulty feature the Grinch and scenes from the beloved book.
Code Combat Game
Focused on Python and javascript, CodeCombat is a standards-aligned computer science program offering free Hour of Code activities that are ideal for kids who love gaming. Activities range from beginner through advanced, so everyone can get involved.
Hour of Code: Simple Encryption
Previously the domain of militaries and spies, encryption is now an important part of modern life for anyone who uses a digital device. This simple encryption puzzle starts at the lowest level and builds in complexity. Fun and educational.
Intro to App Lab
Create your own apps with App Lab’s tools and guidance.
Girls Who Code
Free JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, Scratch, and other programming lessons that students, parents, and educators can complete at home.
Tynker: Hour of Code for Teachers
Text- and block-based coding puzzles, searchable by elementary, middle, and high school level.
MIT App Inventor
Users create their own mobile app with a blocks-based programming language. Need help? Check out the coding tutorials here.
Microsoft Make Code: Hands-on computing education
Fun projects utilizing both block and text editors for students of all ages. No account needed.
Scratch: Get Creative with Coding
No account needed to start coding new worlds, cartoons, or flying animals.
Scratch Jr
Nine activities introduce kids to coding with the programming language Scratch Jr., which lets children aged 5-7 create interactive stories and games.
