For December 2023, we Connected Falkirk and DigiLearnFalk are delighted to announce our Codemas challenges. Three coding themed challenges to celebrate the Festive Season. Find out more about the activities here and check back later for the amazing results from our schools below.
The Challenges
Use Scratch to code your own festive game.
This challenge is accompanied by a live lesson on 1st December. For those who can’t make it or need the instructions again there is a full length 23 minute step by step video. We recommend an hour or more to complete this challenge.
Code your micro:bit to make a festive song guessing game.
You don’t actually need a micro:bit for this challenge! You can code a virtual micro:bit using the App or the micro:bit MakeCode website. We recommend setting aside 45 minutes to an hour for this challenge, the videos are short but coding the musical notes may take time.
Help the elves find the presents on Code Lab in Google Santa Tracker.
This is the shortest challenge of the bunch. It would be great as a free time option or as an extension activity in December as each learner can play independently at their own pace. How many levels can your class complete?
Activity Instructions
All the instructions you need are below, you can download these to share with learners using this interactive PDF or share the link to the live online version. You can also use the short link: https://bit.ly/CFcodemas2023 to share this page with learners.
Codemas Challenges by Connected Falkirk and DigiLearnFalk
Tutorial Videos
These tutorial videos are linked in the activity instructions on the live version or can be accessed below. Please note they are of differing lengths and the Challenge Two activity has an extension task for coders who want an extra challenge.
The Result
P6/5 enjoyed exploring the Connected Falkirk Merry Codemas Challenge 3. We became very competitive whilst developing our coding skills. @ConnectedFalk pic.twitter.com/AOfl9c5KFc
— Mrs McKenzie & P5K (@BPSMrsMcKenzie) December 7, 2023
Today we tuned in to a live session with @ConnectedFalk called Codemas. We followed along on Scratch and coded a Christmas game. We have great fun and displayed perseverance and problem solving throughout ⭐️🎅🏼🎄 pic.twitter.com/aD39xuif9W
— Deanburn PS P6HE (@DeanburnP6HE) December 1, 2023
This morning we took part in Challenge 1 from @ConnectedFalk ‘Codemas’. We used Scratch to code our own game. After their game code was completed some pupils chose to add in sounds when they gained a point and others added in extra characters. 🎄💫 @airthprimary pic.twitter.com/683YOP7apK
— P7 and Miss Daly (@MissDalyAPS) December 11, 2023
Today we completed the second @ConnectedFalk Christmas Codemas Challenge! We used microbits to create some festive songs! #STEMLarbert #FalkirkSTEMpire @DigiLearnFalk pic.twitter.com/lFWhrkw8v0
— Miss Robinson (@missrobLVPS) December 13, 2023
We completed challenge 2 of @ConnectedFalk #Codemas today.🎄We had to use blocks to code different Christmas songs using a micro:bit simulator 🎶 R, L and E who attended Girls’ Coding club last year were a great help! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/hylT1EDPaN
— Miss McLuckie (@MissMcLuckieHPS) December 13, 2023
This afternoon we completed our first Codmas challenge to code our own festive game using Scratch.
Here are some of the games we came up with! 🧑💻⌨️@ConnectedFalk @DigiLearnFalk pic.twitter.com/PfO1Of8WQN
— Miss Mitchell and P6M (@KPS_Primary6M23) December 18, 2023