Step into Computing

This month, we've selected some sparkling, seasonal resources to help you and your pupils celebrate the festive period.

From Christmas coding and digital cards to making scarf designs for snowmen, these fun-filled resources can help you to bring festive joy to your classroom this December.

Have fun with the Teach Computing Curriculum

Paint your favourite festive character with your Year 1 pupils:
Show your pupils how to paint a snowman, elf or even Santa (I know him!) using a digital painting package, then compare the image to a drawn one.
Compose a festive jingle or create a Christmas quiz with Year 3 pupils:
Why not adapt this unit on sequence in scratch with your class to create digital music with a Christmas theme? Or try out this unit from our curriculum and get your class programming seasonal quizzes?
Customise an e-Christmas card with Year 4:
Inspire your pupils to create Christmas scenes through editing digital images using our photo editing unit.

Oh Christmas tree

Are you looking to plan a Christmas-themed coding lesson? This festive activity from STEM Learning features a Christmas tree that has sparkles lighting up as the baubles! You can also use other Christmas-related ideas (for example, Christmas cards) that have the same code. For further inspiration, you could link to our Year 5 physical computing resource or loan a physical computing kit from your local Computing Hub.

Code a Christmas tree

Winter warmers

Barefoot Computing's Winter warmers provide three seasonal activities for 4-to 6-year-olds that cover making bird feeders, learning about patterns by discussing and making scarf designs for snowmen, and discovering how to make igloos.

Discover winter warmers

New for 2021: STEM Learning's advent calendar

STEM Learning has just launched a new advent calendar to inspire your teaching for all key stages throughout December and beyond! Each day unlocks free tasters of CPD, engaging resources, festive enrichment activities and special online events.

Discover the calendar

Raspberry Pi Foundation's festive projects

To get you in the mood with some festive fun, check out these exciting resources from the Raspberry Pi Foundation!