STEAM workshop: Pupils delve into the world of programming
Aimed at all elementary school pupils, the STEAM workshop offers an exciting introduction to the world of coding. Divided into two groups – the first for pupils from CP to CE1 and the second for those from CE2 to CM2 – children discover the basics of programming while stimulating their creativity and critical thinking. Through fun, interactive activities, they explore the fundamental concepts of computing and create their own digital projects.
During the first lesson, held outdoors under clear skies, the youngest students used chalk to discover the basics of computer science. Using an interactive game, they drew grids, a starting point, obstacles and a destination. Three pupils took part in each game: one ‘coder’ who wrote instructions in the form of arrows, another who read the code, and a third who played the role of the computer or robot, executing the instructions. This activity enabled them to experience the fundamental process of coding: testing, debugging and adjusting programmes. At the end of the course, several stars were added to the drawing, somewhat to show the fun of working and above all the success of the young participants.
For the older pupils, from CE2 to CM2, during their first lesson they used as well traditional writing tools, pencil and paper. They discovered the basics of programming by learning how to encode and decode messages, exploring how automated systems and electronic cards process information. The binary language, at the heart of computing, was introduced as a way of representing data through 0s and 1s. Using these new skills, the pupils were able to create their own games on the Scratch platform, stimulating their logic and creativity.
This workshop opened up new perspectives on digital technologies for the students, preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow while helping them to solve problems in a fun way. It’s a real invitation to explore the exciting and infinite world of computing!
