Big ideas. Small first games.

GDevelop + optional AI · 60–90 min

Make a GDevelop game with AI—and understand every rule

Build Star Courier: move a pilot, collect five stars, return to base and restart. Use small AI requests and inspect the events they create.

Suggested ages 13–18

Scratch / GDevelop / Godot · 2 sessions

How to make a game mashup: combine two mechanics into one small game

Mix a movement challenge with a puzzle rule, build the smallest version and find out whether the combination is fun.

Suggested ages 13–18

Scratch · 45–60 min

Make your first Scratch game: catch the falling stars

Build a moving basket, a falling star and a score. Then change the rules and test your own version.

Suggested ages 8–12

Scratch · 45–60 min

Build a Scratch virtual pet with hunger and happiness

Give a character changing needs, working care buttons and a personality of its own.

Suggested ages 8–12

MakeCode Arcade · 45–60 min

Create your first pixel game with MakeCode Arcade

Move a player, collect a gem, count points and race a countdown in a browser.

Suggested ages 8–14

Teachable Machine · 30–45 min

Train your first AI: pencil or spoon?

Collect object examples, test unseen photos and discover why a confident prediction can still be wrong.

Suggested ages 8–14 + adult

Machine Learning for Kids · 60–90 min

Add machine learning to a Scratch adventure

Train a text classifier to recognize directions, then make a character respond to its predictions.

Suggested ages 9–14 + adult

Godot · 60–90 min

Make your first Godot game: move, collect and win

Use a small Godot 4 starter to understand input, game state and a five-coin finish line.

Suggested ages 13–18

Try the hint-first coaching routine →

Two useful ideas

Make with AI.
Make AI work.

AI can help you create.

An eligible assistant can explain an error, suggest a test or help an adult prepare an activity. The learner still makes decisions and checks the result.

Your project can use a trained model.

With Machine Learning for Kids or Teachable Machine, examples teach a model to recognize a pattern. A Scratch character that follows fixed rules is a coding project; it does not automatically use machine learning.

A useful tool for each next step

Choose your building tools.

Start with one. These are independent editorial selections, not affiliate links. Suggested ages describe the lesson fit; each provider’s current account rules still apply.

Make games · First-time coder

Scratch ↗

A catch game, maze, virtual pet or animated story.

You’ll learn: Events, loops, variables, conditions and debugging with visual blocks.

Teaching fit: 8–12
Cost: Free
Device: Laptop, desktop or compatible tablet browser

Setup & grown-up notes

Start in the editor and save a project file locally. An account is needed for online saving and community sharing; an adult should review those settings.

Make games · Beginner → growing

MakeCode Arcade ↗

A pixel-art collector, racing game or space adventure.

You’ll learn: Sprites, coordinates, controller input, collisions and scoring; move from blocks to JavaScript.

Teaching fit: 8–14
Cost: Free browser editor; hardware optional
Device: Laptop, desktop or Chromebook browser

Setup & grown-up notes

Use the simulator without buying a device. Save a local copy; have an adult review any public share link.

Train & explore AI · Some Scratch experience

Machine Learning for Kids ↗

A Scratch character that responds to a classifier you train.

You’ll learn: Collect and label examples, train a model, test unfamiliar inputs and connect predictions to code.

Teaching fit: 9–14 with guidance
Cost: Check current project and service requirements
Device: Laptop, desktop or Chromebook browser

Setup & grown-up notes

An adult or teacher should choose the project type and account setup. Some models depend on external services. Use the Scratch editor launched from the project for its model blocks.

Train & explore AI · First AI experiment

Teachable Machine ↗

A pencil-versus-spoon classifier, then a more challenging object test.

You’ll learn: Training data, labels, held-out tests, confidence and misleading patterns.

Teaching fit: 8–14 with guidance
Cost: Free web tool
Device: Computer browser; webcam optional when using image files

Setup & grown-up notes

Use object photos and preview locally. An adult reviews camera permissions and export choices. Training a model does not automatically connect it to a game.

Train & explore AI · Blocks → Python

PictoBlox ↗

An interactive character, coding experiment or robot project.

You’ll learn: Block coding, Python, machine learning and physical computing.

Teaching fit: Beginners to teens; advanced AI around 12+
Cost: Check current edition, extensions and hardware costs
Device: Supported browser or app; hardware depends on activity

Setup & grown-up notes

Adults should preview the exact activity, camera/microphone use and account requirements. Start with object data and the official beginner materials.

Make games · Growing game maker

GDevelop ↗

A platformer, puzzle game or top-down adventure.

You’ll learn: Visual events, conditions, actions, behaviors and playtesting.

Teaching fit: 10–16
Cost: Free engine; education, cloud and AI plans vary
Device: Browser or desktop app

Setup & grown-up notes

Education plans offer teacher-managed student accounts. Have an adult choose the account setup and review cloud publishing. AI assistance is optional.

Make games · Advanced migration project

GM2Godot ↗

Move your own small, editable GameMaker project into Godot.

You’ll learn: Project structure, compatibility reports, code comparison and regression testing.

Teaching fit: 13–18 with prior GameMaker experience
Cost: Open-source tool; GameMaker and optional AI services have separate terms
Device: Windows, macOS or Linux computer; follow release requirements

Setup & grown-up notes

Adult setup recommended. Back up your source and convert into a separate folder. Output requires review; compiled games are not accepted. Use the Godot version recommended by the selected release.

Make games · Ready for text coding

Godot ↗

An original 2D coin collector, followed by a small platformer.

You’ll learn: GDScript, nodes, scenes, input, game state and debugging.

Teaching fit: 13–18 or experienced younger learners
Cost: Free and open source
Device: Windows, macOS or Linux computer recommended

Setup & grown-up notes

The desktop editor can be used locally without a cloud account. Install the standard Godot 4 editor with adult help. Our starter uses GDScript, not the .NET edition.

Physical computing · Beginner with adult setup

micro:bit CreateAI ↗

A movement recognizer, activity timer or interactive wearable.

You’ll learn: Collect sensor examples, train and test a movement model, then program a response in MakeCode.

Teaching fit: 8–14
Cost: Free software; micro:bit hardware required
Device: Compatible computer/tablet and micro:bit equipment

Setup & grown-up notes

CreateAI requires no login. Follow the official equipment guide before buying hardware; select movements that are comfortable and accessible to the learner.

Make games · Early reader

ScratchJr ↗

An animated story or a simple interactive scene.

You’ll learn: Sequencing, cause and effect, character movement and storytelling.

Teaching fit: 5–7 with an adult
Cost: Free app
Device: Supported tablet or Chromebook app

Setup & grown-up notes

An adult installs the app and helps save work on the device. A separate early-learning option for children younger than our main 8–18 audience.

Make apps · Growing coder

MIT App Inventor ↗

A quiz, useful mobile tool or interactive app.

You’ll learn: Event-driven blocks, interface design, data and testing on a device.

Teaching fit: 12–18 with guidance
Cost: Free educational platform
Device: Computer browser; compatible phone/tablet or emulator for testing

Setup & grown-up notes

Adult or school support may be needed for sign-in, Companion installation and device/network setup. Check component support for the target device.

Train & explore AI · First AI activity

Code.org AI activities ↗

Try AI for Oceans or a guided AI dance activity.

You’ll learn: Examples, classification and thoughtful choices about AI.

Teaching fit: Choose by grade band
Cost: Free learning activities
Device: Compatible browser; requirements vary by lesson

Setup & grown-up notes

Preview the selected lesson and its account requirements. These are external guided activities, not CodeTeachers-hosted games.