SACO — Seventh-grader Grace Harbour and fourth-grader Ella Marston sat in front of a computer screen looking at a dog graphic that Harbour helped Marston create.
“Do you want to make it bark?” asked Harbour.
Marston nodded. “Yeah.”
Harbour led her through the computer coding process to make the dog bark. Marston laughed as she listened to the sound.
Marston named the dog “Ava” and with Harbour, created a squirrel named “Chippy.”
Then it was time to give Ava and Chippy some context.
Harbour went over different backdrops they could use ”“ a castle, the Grand Canyon, a ginger bread house.
“They can be anywhere you want them to be,” said Harbour. “They can be on the moon if you want or they can be having a party.”
Marston decided that Ava and Chippy should be at a party, and Harbour helped her add a fluttering butterfly.
“That’s cool,” said Marston.
Harbour was one a group of seventh-graders from Saco Middle School teaching fourth graders at C.K. Burns School computer coding Friday in conjunction with Hour of Code, a national initiative to introduce students to coding.
The students Friday seemed to be enjoying the activity.
“I like teaching people,” said Harbour.
Seventh-grader Braeden Blow said he wants to be a computer programmer when he grows up. Blow said he likes to use his own ideas to create things, and make “your own world.”
Saco Middle School Media Center Educational Technician Jen Bishop said Friday’s activity made learning fun for both the fourth and seventh-graders. She said the seventh-graders have to think of different ways to teach coding, to accommodate different learning styles.
Different students are at different levels, said seventh-grader Alec McAlary.
“Even if you’re a beginner you can have fun with it,” he said.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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