iPads have a fantastic selection of apps for coding.
Check the widget at the bottom of the page for a list of the most popular ones for children
Check the widget at the bottom of the page for a list of the most popular ones for children
**Quite often the "paid" apps become free for a short amount of time - so keep your eye open for bargains!**
Toca Robot Lab (paid)
A simple, entertaining app which is a good introduction to robotics and coding for ES! and S1 students. Children build their own robot using a variety of pieces and then take him on a test run to collect the stars |
Pixel Art (free)
Turn pictures into pixel art. Very simple to use. |
Pixel Editor (free)
Draw using pixels on various sizes of grids. Very simple to use. |
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Blue Bot app (free)
Requires IOS 9.3 or later. Control the Blue Bot using Bluetooth or complete the activities on the iPad |
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Box Island (free)
Most suitable for ES1 and S1 students. It has 20 levels which start with simple direction blocks, moves onto repeats and then develops conditionals. Box Island Game - Lesson Plan |
Cargo Bot (free)
Create a programme to teach the robotic crane to move the crates. Each level becomes progressively more complex and requires logical thinking and problem solving skills. Would suit later S2 & S3 |
Lightbot (paid - free lite version)
Lightbot takes students through a series of challenges which become increasingly challenging. The app uses symbol blocks to programme the little "Bot" and includes loops (repeats) and conditionals. |
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A.L.E.X (free)
A.L.E.X is very suitable for S1 onwards. The first 25 levels are free - an in app purchase unlocks more levels. As well as having the problem solving challenges, A.L.E.X also has the option of creating your own challenge mats. |
Robo Logic (Lite free)
Programme the robot's movements by combining symbol commands. The tutorial teaches all about basic line commands and through to functions. Although it starts quite simply, the challenges become more complex as you progress through the levels |
Robot School (free)
Robot School teaches procedures, loops and conditional instructions using drag and drop blocks. It needs no prior knowledge and is free from in-app purchases. |
Cato's Hike (paid)
Suitable for late S1 onward. The programme uses symbol blocks to programme Cato to move around the board. Each level increases in difficulty. |
Kodable (level 1 free - in app purchase for more levels)
Kodable encourages logical thinking and problem solving. Symbols are used to code solutions to challenges. The first set of challenges, Smeeborg, are free and teach loops, repeats & "if this, then that" conditions. There are 45 mazes to solve at this level. The subsequent 3 levels are in app purchases which become progressively more difficult. Designed for S1 and above Kodable Resources
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Karel The Robot (paid)
This app is slightly different as students can design their own challenge and then programme Karel to complete it. Karel can build a staircase and then be programmed to climb up and down. The programme is recorded and then can be edited. Could be used with late S1 upwards |
The Foos (free) app is a simple programming puzzle. Children have to guide the characters through the levels by dragging and dropping the commands into a string.
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Daisy The Dinosaur (free)
For younger students. There is a Challenge mode which teaches students how to put the blocks together to move Daisy around the screen. The Challenges increase in difficulty to build skills before going on to the free play mode where students can create their own programmes and experiment with commands The video to the right is an excellent introduction to Daisy and Hopscotch |
iPad Apps: Daisy the Dino from LondonCLC on Vimeo. |
Hopscotch (free)
This app is probably best suited to late S1 and S2 students. It uses blocks from 5 categories; Motion, Lines, Control, Looks and Operators to build a programme which will move your selected character around the screen A quick look at the Hopscotch app - you tube
Hopscotch app tutorial -
youtube |
Run Marco (free)
A very easy to use coding app using blocks. Starts quite simply but builds skills to more complex coding. Instructions are visual which makes it an ideal starting point for young coders. |
Dynamic Art Lite (free - full version paid)
This app uses blocks of code to create artworks and animations. The catalogue contains all the information needed to start your first project. Suitable for S3 and above. There is a paid version also with extra features |
Move The Turtle (paid)
Move the Turtle allows you to build a series of blocks to complete a design challenge. The more simple challenges could be tackled by a late S1 class but generally would be better for S2 and up. |
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Tynker (level 1 free - in app purchase for more levels)
Tynker uses code blocks to programme the characters. Tutorials guide you through the adventure Puppy Adventure where you learn about loops, repeats and conditionals. This level is suited to S1/early S2 students. The following adventures are available as in app purchases. Lost in Space has more about conditional terms and applying logic Sketch Racer is where the turtle can be programmed to draw all sorts of geometric shapes |
Codeable Crafts (free)
A drawing/coding app where students can create and decorate their own characters - or even use the camera to capture a picture or object to use. Block based coding can then be used to animate the character. |
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Scratch (free) app has over 150 blocks and Scratch tutorials It was designed to help learn the Scratch programme more easy
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Scratch 2 Games (paid) app has lots of videos to help students create games in the web based version. A large file - 300mb
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Pyonkee (free) app is based on and compatible with Scratch. The interface is almost identical. It has a sound recording and camera function to capture your own sounds and images.
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