{"id":9460,"date":"2017-06-02T16:00:33","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T23:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/?p=9460"},"modified":"2023-10-26T23:32:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T06:32:37","slug":"5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a09ccc61e337\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #206be5;color:#206be5\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #206be5;color:#206be5\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a09ccc61e337\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/#5_Ways_to_Sharpen_Up_Your_Skills_for_the_Summer_Code-A-Thon\" >5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/#1_Learn_to_code_with_puzzles_on_iPad_tablets\" >1. Learn to code with puzzles on iPad tablets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/#2_Complete_an_Hour_of_Code_with_fun_activities\" >2. Complete an Hour of Code with fun activities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/#3_Build_your_own_simple_games_by_completing_easy_tutorials\" >3. Build your own simple games by completing easy tutorials<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/#4_Make_a_Minecraft_mod_with_code\" >4. Make a Minecraft mod with code<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-sharpen-up-your-skills-for-the-summer-code-a-thon\/#5_Challenge_yourself_with_text_coding\" >5. Challenge yourself with text coding<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Ways_to_Sharpen_Up_Your_Skills_for_the_Summer_Code-A-Thon\"><\/span>5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On June 12, we\u2019re launching a global coding event to help you make this the summer of code. But you don\u2019t need to wait until then to start sharpening up your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/parents\/curriculum\/coding-proficiency\/skills\/\">coding skills<\/a>! Here are five free ways for kids to get coding with fun games, puzzles, and do-it-yourself projects.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Learn_to_code_with_puzzles_on_iPad_tablets\"><\/span>1. Learn to code with puzzles on iPad tablets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Anyone can download our free <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/tynker-learn-to-code-programming-made-easy\/id805869467?mt=8\">iPad<\/a> app and start <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/\">learning to code<\/a>! With the free app, you can solve coding puzzles, create and publish your own games, browse the moderated Tynker Community, and even program drones and robots. Plus, the iPad app is now available in five new languages: Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Complete_an_Hour_of_Code_with_fun_activities\"><\/span>2. Complete an Hour of Code with fun activities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/\">Hour of Code<\/a> page to find dozens of fun, free activities. You can try puzzle games like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/code-monsters\">Code Monsters<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/dragon-dash\">Dragon Dash<\/a> that teach the basics of programming and computational thinking as you solve challenges like navigating your dragon to the treasure or battling monsters in a Pokemon-style monster collection game. We even have activities with audio instructions for early readers!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Build_your_own_simple_games_by_completing_easy_tutorials\"><\/span>3. Build your own simple games by completing easy tutorials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The only thing more fun than playing games? Making your own! We offer tons of free tutorials that walk you through how to create and customize your own awesome games. You can even use our built-in Physics Engine to easily create physics-based games with gravity, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/brick-breaker\">Brick Breaker<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/physics-cannon-2-player\">physics cannon game<\/a>, or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/undersea-arcade\">top-down arcade game<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Make_a_Minecraft_mod_with_code\"><\/span>4. Make a Minecraft mod with code<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Love Minecraft? You can take your gameplay to the next level with modding! All you need to do is make a free Tynker account, have your parent approve it, and link it to your Minecraft Classic account. Then you can get started by making <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/minecraft\/skins\/\">skins<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/minecraft\/texture-packs\/\">texture packs<\/a> or coding your own mods with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/courses\/minecraft-starter\">Mod Starter Pack<\/a>. You\u2019ll learn how to make eggs cause an explosion when you throw them, automatically create a path of petals as you walk, and even make your own Thunder Dome mini-game! Plus, you can invite your friends onto your free private server to play and code with you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Challenge_yourself_with_text_coding\"><\/span>5. Challenge yourself with text coding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Make the jump from block-based coding to JavaScript and Python with our fun puzzle-based activities. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/counter-hack\">Counter Hack<\/a>, you\u2019ll use JavaScript commands to save the computer from a malicious virus by deleting viruses, solving mazes, and navigating portals. And in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/hour-of-code\/toxic-jungle\">Toxic Jungle<\/a>, you\u2019ll learn Python to help Fletch collect the pixie dust and save the floating islands from the toxic haze.<\/p>\n<p>And make sure you stay tuned for our big launch next week! There will be fun coding challenges, awesome prizes, and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon On June 12, we\u2019re launching a global coding event to help you make this the summer of code. But you don\u2019t need to wait until then to start sharpening up your coding skills! Here are five free ways for kids to get coding with fun games, puzzles, and do-it-yourself [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9461,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,52,12,124],"tags":[117,20],"class_list":["post-9460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coding-at-home","category-coding-at-school","category-ideas-and-tips","category-learn-to-code-resource","tag-code-jam","tag-coding-for-kids"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Ways to Sharpen Up Your Skills for the Summer Code-A-Thon - Tynker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sharpen up your coding skills for the summer code-a-thon. 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