Numerous third-graders at Mars Area Elementary School completed a LOOPS Coding Challenge, held on honor of Computer Science Education Month.

Students are Violet Booher, Noah Bergdahl, Roxanna Bryant, Dominic Carchedi, Ethan Cawley, Mila Ciafre, Maxwell Devich, Paige Diehl, Kaylee Diroll, Aarna Dubey, Olivia Evans, Gabriel Flecker, Hadley Fonzi, Kendall Fonzi, Kyle Funovits, Archer Furman, Luke Hauser, Camden Hosack, Brooks Kelly, Gavin Klug, Jessica Li, Jane Lyons, Declan Mahon, Jack Marcoline, Angelo Navari, Everly Northrop, Amelia Nuttall, Noah Patora, Conor Ransom, Max Raybuck, Evan Renner, Brendan Sweeny, Jonathan Tang, Anastasia Trombulak, Malachi Utz, Rex Watenpool and Charlie Xuan.

All third-graders were invited to participate in the challenge by completing 32 puzzles that required the use of loops in their Code.org course. Each puzzle gradually increased in difficulty as the students navigated mazes, created artistic designs, and controlled robotic bees. The final 12 puzzles, asked students to use nested loops, identifying patterns within another. 

Computer science is introduced in STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) classes to help develop skills such as problem-solving, logical reasoning, pattern recognition and algorithmic thinking that can help them to better break down problems, make decisions in their code, and create efficient step-by-step procedures.

“In addition, coding fosters creativity, reinforces math concepts, and encourages collaboration,” says Colleen Hinrichsen, STEAM teacher, noting that, in addition to Code.org, students also apply their coding skills through Scratch Jr., Minecraft Education Edition, and Dash robots. “It’s a fun and engaging way for kids to enhance their critical thinking, persistence, and communication skills.”  

For more information, call (724) 625-3161.