Students across the district get first-hand look at how coding impacts our world through wide range of activities

Somerville Public Schools (SPS) students are joining millions of students from around the world in celebrating Computer Science Education Week, December 3-9. A variety of Hour of Code events will be taking place throughout the week at schools across the district. Every SPS student will have the opportunity to further their STEM learning by participating in special activities with teachers, community and university partners, as well as parent volunteers.

“This annual movement offers a platform to reinforce the importance of STEM education, and provides students an opportunity to further explore coding in a creative and interactive way,” commented Superintendent of Schools, Mary Skipper. “We are extremely grateful to have so many partners and volunteers working with our amazing team of educators to ensure that students gain a greater understanding of how coding impacts our world and our daily lives.”

“We want to expose all students to the fundamentals of computer science through activities such as programming an Ozobot robot and writing computer program with Scratch, a computer science language developed at MIT,” added Charlie LaFauci, Supervisor of Library Media Services for the district. “It’s important that students are learning 21^st century computer science skills in school as the demand for these skills in the workplace will continue to increase in the coming years.”

Activities will be taking place at schools throughout the district that give every SPS student a glimpse at how computer science plays a role in our everyday lives. Somerville High’s Broadcast Club will produce the Daily Tech and Coding podcast live at lunch each day and post it on their YouTube channel. Students are invited to ask Code Cafe guests STEM questions and talk about issues in the wider tech community. On WOMEN in STEM Wednesday, students are invited to find out about the STEMINISTS movement at SHS and to learn more about coding+women&girls.

Students in grades PK-8 will have the chance to dig deeper into the world of coding as well. For example, programmers from Google will visit the West Somerville Neighborhood School to run Scratch tutorials, while the Kennedy School will host a “Splats Gamezone,” and the Healey and Brown schools will coordinate a variety of in-class and afterschool design and programming challenges. East Somerville Community School will present an afternoon pop-up MakerSpace with Parts and Crafts, The Beautiful Stuff Project, Circuit Lab, and Unruly Studios.

As in years past, Hour of Code week provides every SPS student access to a range of activities that promote STEM learning, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary projects that connect subjects such as art, engineering, physical education, math, and ELA. Students not only gain a broader perspective on how computer science impacts our world and our future, but a greater understanding of how interconnected learning is.

— Somerville Public Schools