Computer Science at Home

Whether you're a parent/guardian or a student learning independently, the options below are engaging, easy-to-try ways to begin your exploration of computer science.

• Try an Hour of Code
• Watch a short video series about the basics of CS
• Take an introductory, self-paced course
• Create a game or an app
• Try CS without a computer ('unplugged' & mobile options)

Try an Hour of Code with these fun introductory tutorial

Try a one-hour tutorial featuring popular games and movies like Minecraft, Frozen, and Star Wars. Many tutorials are structured like games, designed to teach basic computer science concepts in fun, engaging ways.

Dance Party

Code a Dance Party to share with friends and family. Featuring Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Selena Gomez, music from Disney's "Encanto," and more!

Try activity

Minecraft Hour of Code

Minecraft is back for the Hour of Code with a brand new activity! Journey through Minecraft with code.

Try activity

AI for Oceans

Help A.I. clean the oceans by training it to detect trash! Learn about training data and bias, and how AI can address world problems. View lesson plan.

Try activity

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Watch an engaging series of short videos to learn how computers, the internet, and AI work

Learn the basics of computer science with videos featuring famous technologists like Bill Gates and Satya Nadella, as well as a diverse cast of presenters from a number of industries and organizations.

How Computers Work

With an introduction by Bill Gates, this series of six short videos explains what makes a computer a computer and how computer circuits work.

Watch the video series

How the Internet Works

In this series of eight short videos, you’ll learn how the internet was invented, what HTML is, and how search engines like Google work.

Watch the video series

How AI Works

Learn about how AI works and why it matters with this series of short videos. Featuring Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and a diverse cast of experts.

Watch the video series

View more videos, including short inspirational videos featuring celebrities like Steph Curry and Shakira, here.

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Learn the fundamentals with our self-paced courses

Self-paced introductory courses

A great option for students getting started on their own. You'll learn the fundamentals of computer science with drag & drop blocks. Create your own drawings and games. Note: Express courses are currently available in English, Hindi, Italian, and Spanish. For other languages, we recommend our 20-hour Accelerated Course. To see what's available in your language, visit our course catalog.

Express Course

Express Course for pre-readers

Self-paced introductions to Game Lab and App Lab

Adapted from our CS Discoveries and CS Principles courses, these short, self-paced modules are a great way to learn concepts that span all programming languages and tools. Requires Code.org account to access.

Introduction to Game Lab

Program animations, interactive art, and games in Game Lab. Start off with simple shapes and build up to more sophisticated sprite-based animations and games.

Try the module

Turtle Programming in App Lab

Use simple JavaScript commands to draw shapes and images using a virtual “turtle.” Design and program your own digital scene!

Try the module

Event-Driven Programming in App Lab

Learn to design apps that respond to clicks and key presses. Create a series of simple applications (apps) that live on the web!

Try the module

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Create something!

First, get inspired! View our project gallery — play some of the games or try out some of the apps that students have created. You can “remix” the project to make it your own, or build something new in App Lab, Game Lab, or Web Lab.

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‘Unplugged’ activities: Computer Science without the computer

Click image to view as PDF

Or view these unplugged options from other organizations:

• Hello Ruby - The world's most whimsical way to learn about computers, technology and programming. Activities on a range of CS topics, like the ability to decompose a problem, spot patterns, think algorithmically, debug problems and work together. (for ages 4-10)
• CS Unplugged - A collection of free teaching material that teaches computer science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. (for ages 5-14)

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