Coding Apps - for tablets and iPads
There are a number of coding apps available. Many are suitable for students learning to code although some more advanced apps are available. Most are free although some do have premium options which could be worth exploring if you find the app works well for your students. Where an age is given it is a guide only and could be older or younger depending on the student). Most have an option for iPad and Android devices but check compatibility with your device.
Scratch Jnr for iPad and Android - A drag-and- drop block-code app which is great for learning the basics of coding. Once students have a good understanding of Scratch Jnr they can move on to the more advanced Scratch (web-based). More on Scratch here.
iPad apps: Tynker (free) and Tynker for Schools (~ $6 - $9) A drag-and- drop block-code app which is great for learning the basics of coding. Enables programming of drones and robots including Sphero and Ollie - See Robots & Drones page.
Tickle - Block-based coding. Allows coding of a variety of robots, drones and toys. Can view your code in Swift.
Swift Playgrounds - Swift is the programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS. The app includes lessons as well as playgrounds. Swift Playgrounds includes real iOS frameworks such as UIKit, SceneKit, and SpriteKit, and access to the hardware touch gestures, gyroscope, and camera. Swifty An ios app with tutorials for the Swift programming language. basic introduction tutorials are fee then you can pay to unlock others if wished.
Daisy the Dinosaur - Students have a number of tasks to complete which gradually increase in difficulty. Suitable for students from around ages 4 - 7.
Cargo-bot - Move crates from one place to another with a crane. Teaches some of the basic coding skills and problem-solving. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Osmo - Osmo combines an iPad app with physically manipulating physical blocks of code using a clip on over the iPad camera to capture what is happening in front of the screen. Ages 5 - 12.
Box Island - Hour of Code activity app
Metaverse site for creating apps You need the Metaverse app on your phone to play the app. Here’s a very basic example I made, very easy to do. Works a bit like a pick-a-path, I was only using the basics but it can get a lot more complex if wanted. Could be a good follow on from using Google Slides or Google Forms to make a Pick-a-path, they could turn their story into an app.
iPad apps: Tynker (free) and Tynker for Schools (~ $6 - $9) A drag-and- drop block-code app which is great for learning the basics of coding. Enables programming of drones and robots including Sphero and Ollie - See Robots & Drones page.
Tickle - Block-based coding. Allows coding of a variety of robots, drones and toys. Can view your code in Swift.
Swift Playgrounds - Swift is the programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS. The app includes lessons as well as playgrounds. Swift Playgrounds includes real iOS frameworks such as UIKit, SceneKit, and SpriteKit, and access to the hardware touch gestures, gyroscope, and camera. Swifty An ios app with tutorials for the Swift programming language. basic introduction tutorials are fee then you can pay to unlock others if wished.
Daisy the Dinosaur - Students have a number of tasks to complete which gradually increase in difficulty. Suitable for students from around ages 4 - 7.
Cargo-bot - Move crates from one place to another with a crane. Teaches some of the basic coding skills and problem-solving. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Osmo - Osmo combines an iPad app with physically manipulating physical blocks of code using a clip on over the iPad camera to capture what is happening in front of the screen. Ages 5 - 12.
Box Island - Hour of Code activity app
Metaverse site for creating apps You need the Metaverse app on your phone to play the app. Here’s a very basic example I made, very easy to do. Works a bit like a pick-a-path, I was only using the basics but it can get a lot more complex if wanted. Could be a good follow on from using Google Slides or Google Forms to make a Pick-a-path, they could turn their story into an app.
Hopscotch Editor by Justsomenerds - CC BY-SA 4.0,
Pyonkee - Based on Scratch coding, a step up from Scratch Jr.
Hopscotch - A Freemium app - Block coding and game-based app.
Kodable - Free block-coding app with tasks that increase in difficulty. Create a class account in a browser then give students the code to log in on their i-Pads.
Kids'nCode - a basic block coding app with tasks that increase in difficulty. Suit ages 4 - 7.
Hopscotch - A Freemium app - Block coding and game-based app.
Kodable - Free block-coding app with tasks that increase in difficulty. Create a class account in a browser then give students the code to log in on their i-Pads.
Kids'nCode - a basic block coding app with tasks that increase in difficulty. Suit ages 4 - 7.
25 Coding Apps - a short summary of each of the options.
7 Coding apps for kids - Most are suitable for primary aged students.
7 Coding apps for kids - Most are suitable for primary aged students.
There are also some web-based coding sites that are playable in a browser on an i-pad or tablet.
Code.org - Hour of Code activities. These are task-based activities that increase in difficulty and are on themes that will appeal to students. Suit ages 4 - 15 although most activities require basic reading skills. Most of the Code.org Hour of Code links are Hour of Code activities on other sites like Kodable, Block Island, Disney etc. Some use block-based code, others like Kano use more advanced programming language
Code.org Tutorials - Hour-long practical tutorials for all ages. Themes are designed to appeal to students.
Coding for Kids
iPad Coding apps
Code.org - Hour of Code activities. These are task-based activities that increase in difficulty and are on themes that will appeal to students. Suit ages 4 - 15 although most activities require basic reading skills. Most of the Code.org Hour of Code links are Hour of Code activities on other sites like Kodable, Block Island, Disney etc. Some use block-based code, others like Kano use more advanced programming language
Code.org Tutorials - Hour-long practical tutorials for all ages. Themes are designed to appeal to students.
Coding for Kids
iPad Coding apps
