Smart Start: Beginning Coding Stories and Activities, Grade PreK

Give your young child a solid introduction to computer science with Smart Start: Beginning Coding Stories and Activities. This engaging book helps children learn important coding concepts through entertaining stories and practice exercises. Aligned with the K-12 Computer Science Framework, this interactive early learning series lays the groundwork for a strong foundation in computer science, including computational thinking, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Each activity book, filled with vibrant illustrations, is divided into eight themed units centered around a specific coding concept. It features:

• Coding stories: These stories illustrate what coders do and can be read aloud.


• Concept pages: These pages connect coding concepts to real-world situations.


• Practice activities: These activities reinforce essential coding rules.


• Review pages: Each coding concept practiced is followed by review pages.


• Coding projects: The book includes print-based games and puzzles that involve coding.


• Mini coding handbook: This handbook provides key terms and definitions.

Through learning computer science concepts and skills, young learners develop critical thinking abilities. They practice fundamental thinking processes, such as:

• Algorithms: Designing simple step-by-step solutions to problems.


• Decomposition: Breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.


• Sequencing: Understanding the importance of the order of steps.


• Pattern recognition: Identifying connections between similar problems.

The book also explores programming language concepts, including:

• Debugging: Finding and correcting mistakes.


• Loops: Using repetition to save time by instructing a computer to repeat an action.

In addition to coding skills, children will develop various readiness skills, such as print awareness, visual discrimination, following directions, and fine-motor skills.

Includes answer key. With 128 non-reproducible pages, this softcover book is suitable for PreK grade level.