Apple’s free coding lessons for primary school kids arrive in time for school holidays

The Everyone Can Code Early Learners activity guides are accessible through Swift Playgrounds, an iPad app for learning how to code.

Everyone Can Code Early Learners on Apple's iPad.

Everyone Can Code Early Learners on Apple's iPad.

If you own an iPad and want something fun and educational for your kids, Apple has you covered with their latest addition to the Swift Playgrounds app

Newly introduced today (6 October 2021, our timezone) is Apple’s Everyone Can Code Early Learners, which extends its existing Everyone Can Code curriculum to young students between kindergarten and third grade (around nine years old). With the revised coding courses, Everyone Can Code now officially covers coding lessons for youths up to college levels of education.

“Coding and app design are essential literacies — these skills help students think critically and creatively, regardless of whether they go on to be app developers,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Education and Enterprise Marketing.

If you're happy and you know it - write your code.

If you're happy and you know it - write your code.

Of course, your little wonder isn’t going to start off the deep end of Python or C++ - the coding concepts are guided through subjects like art, music, and physical education. Apple gave an example of using dance moves to develop their computational thinking skills. 

Separately, Apple is adding Exit Tickets to the Schoolwork app. Educators can use this e-classroom tool without needing to approach their IT departments to set up educator and student accounts. Exit Tickets lets these educators check in on a student’s real-world progress by formulating easy-to-create questions to gauge understanding, reaction, and engagement.

Source: Apple (newsroom)

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