About This Activity
Friday - Aug 28 | Sep 4, 11, 18, 25 | Oct 2, 9, 23 | Nov 6, 13 10 sessions x 90 minutes Code your own versions of the games kids already love—a gingerbread chase, arcade hoops, a treasure dig—on Lando's Scratch-based iPad app. Every game starts partly built; students code the rest, with teachers guiding challenges so no one gets stuck or bored. Classes end with friends playtesting, and after every class families get a challenge report: what we taught, what your student built, and a link to play their game at home—Scratch code included. Example Classes this Session: * Shark Snack: Code a shark that sinks unless you tap, then fill the water with cloned fish and a score counter—learning variables and cloning. * Treasure Digger: Bury treasure somewhere new every round, then detect the instant a shovel uncovers it—learning randomness and sensing. * Hatch-O-Matic: A tapped egg cracks, hatches, and scores, run by a loop that never stops listening—learning loops and conditionals. Class Structure: * Each class opens with a short group lesson, then six to ten self-paced challenges—beginners master fundamentals while experienced coders sprint to extensions. * Playtesting closes every class—trade iPads, rebuild from friends' feedback. Skills & Take-aways: * Core computer science: conditionals, variables, loops, cloning, and randomness. * Game design process: build a working version, playtest it, rebuild it better. * No coding experience needed, just basic reading. Students can take this class more than once—the games change every session. Awards and Accreditations: * Lando is a WASC-accredited program with awards including STEM.org Best in STEM, Academics' Choice, and Parents' Picks. * ESSA Tier IV certified through academic partnerships with Leanlab and Northwestern, affirming measurable learning outcomes. Safety and Communication: * Sign-in and sign-out texts let you know your coder is safe, and a local coordinator is reachable by text during class.
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