When we hear the term ‘coding’ people are quick to assume that it is for older students, maths-minded or tech experts. However, this is not the case—it is a skill that can be introduced to very young children, and our students at Bangkok Patana are already grasping the basics of programming through our carefully curated technology curriculum. 

In the early years, coding begins through simple ‘unplugged’ activities. For example, when children sequence a story or follow a recipe for Playdough, they learn that clear, step-by-step instructions are vital. These playful experiences introduce the foundations of Computational Thinking – the same concepts that underpin computer programming (collecting resources, sequencing events, planning the process, checking the results). Coding also helps children develop communication skills – it teaches them to express their ideas clearly and logically. They are often required to collaborate with others and need to persevere when things don’t go as planned.  

This term in Year 2: Creating Games with Octo Studio 
By Year 2, our learners are ready to take these ideas further. Using Octo Studio, an engaging coding app developed by MIT, the children have been designing and building their very own games. They can select characters from a wide range of emojis, or some chose to get even more creative—modifying or drawing their own characters using the paint feature or even taking and editing photos to use as their Sprites.  

With just a few coding blocks, students can make their characters jump, speak, or glow, and respond to tapping or tilting—perfect elements for interactive games! They then proudly test their creations with classmates, learning to give and receive feedback. 

It is a joy to see their faces light up when their games work as they imagined, and equally wonderful to see their determination when “debugging” their scripts. Along the way, they developed resilience, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, while also learning new computing vocabulary in a meaningful context. 

What may seem like play is, in fact, a powerful introduction to computer science. By making coding fun, hands-on, and age-appropriate, we are giving our young learners the confidence to see themselves as creators of technology—not just users of it. 

The fundamentals of coding are explored throughout Primary as children develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills.  Coding puzzles and hands on programmable robot toys help children to practice step-by-step thinking and build resilience. These skills develop through the years as we introduce Microsoft’s MakeCode and game making.   

Ask any coder and they will surely agree that the old adage “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is an important mantra if you want to be successful.  

Coding through Year 1 and Year 2 

• Year 1 Term 1 B: Beebot/BlueBot & Vex 123 – By planning and sequencing simple commands to get a robot to move towards a goal, students begin to understand the sequential nature of clear instruction and how to spot bugs and errors in their solutions. 
• Year 1 Term 3: Scratch Jr is a great app for creativity as it allows students to code simple animations to tell stories.   Students must break their ideas down into clear coded steps and test their ideas.