I sometimes teach programming to young kids at elementary schools. Tools like Scratch or Minecraft are popular for teaching kids. However, using these tools to teach a class of 30 excited kids in a short time can be challenging. I often get many ‘how-to’ questions from the kids.
To make programming more fun and easy for kids, I developed an iPad app called “Turtles.”
It might not have all the features of Scratch, but its simplicity is its main advantage. With just a five-minute introduction, kids can start experimenting with programming, learning through ‘trial and error’. They really enjoy this approach.
I show them sample programs and encourage them to “Change it any way you like!” This method helps teachers focus less on the ‘how-to’ and more on nurturing the kids’ ‘way of thinking’ about programming.
*Translated by ChatGPT. Apologies for any mistakes.
