9 Best Beginner Coding Games for Second Graders in Homeschool

Last Updated on July 1, 2022 by Brie

These days, coding is everywhere, and it’s not just for us adults who need to make our computers do what we want. Figuring out how things work—from your phone to a website or a video game—can be exciting for adults and kids alike. If you want your children to learn this skill early on, there are plenty of apps and websites that can help them get started using code. Game-based learning is a movement that is really catching on because not only is it fun, but it keeps kids’ attention. There are a variety of coding games for second graders to try for free!

Coding Isn’t Just for Computer Nerds Anymore

Coding isn’t just for computer nerds or people with web-related jobs anymore.

Children are learning how to code at earlier and earlier ages, and it’s not just because you as a parent want them to be the next Steve Jobs. Coding is now an essential skill across many different industries, including but not limited to:

• Technology
• Marketing
• Education
• Healthcare
• Finance

Coding can be considered a type of brain game at the early elementary school age. And that’s not all—coding can also help your kids develop valuable problem-solving skills that they’ll use throughout their lives!

Coding Skills Help Homeschoolers With Problem Solving

Coding games for second graders are a great way to teach kids how to solve problems. In fact, homeschoolers who code have improved problem-solving skills and can use them in all sorts of situations. When your kids are faced with a problem, they’ll gain knowledge from coding on how to:

• Think about the issue. Your kids will ask themselves questions like “What is the problem?” or “How can I describe the situation?”
• Plan solutions. Coding can help your homeschooler think about possible solutions and weigh them against each other until they come up with one that seems best suited for solving the problem.
• Test theories. Your kids will learn to test solutions by implementing them in code (or by building prototypes). Your homeschooler will then see what happens when those solutions are applied—and then make adjustments based on what happened while testing out ideas in code form before using them on real objects or machines. 
• Think critically. As an extra benefit here—because coding involves both programming (creating algorithms) and debugging (fixing bugs)— your kids get lots more practice using critical thinking skills across multiple disciplines!

Learning Coding Helps Teach Concepts Like Math and Science

Learning coding helps teach concepts like math and science to homeschoolers. It also helps homeschoolers understand how to think logically, creatively, and critically. There are a lot of inputs and outputs in coding, and simple coding games offer these in an illustrative method to make it easier for your kids to work with the programs. Since coding is technology, you are pulling in the science lessons for your child if you want to use game-based learning by letting them play coding games a few times a week. 

However, you are also pulling in math! The amount of math your child learns will depend on the program they work with, but examples of math in coding include:

• Decimals
• Rounding
• Scientific notation
• Working with units
• Reading numbers

Learning Coding Can Make Homeschoolers More Creative

Coding is a creative process. It’s not just about learning to use the computer.

Coding is a way to express oneself and can be used as a medium if your child has not found another one to their liking. 

Kids love making things out of code! Your kiddo can use their creativity to make art, animated videos, music, and more with code. They can even use coding to build games or apps for themselves and their friends to play! You could form a homeschool co-op for coding where kids exchange and test out mini-games they have created. 

Coding Is a Useful Skill Across Many Different Industries

Coding is a multidisciplinary skill. It is used in many career paths, from robotics to space travel and artificial intelligence. It’s also useful for students who want to pursue an education in computer science or computer engineering.

Learning Coding Can Help Prepare Kids for High School Courses and College Degrees

But coder skills don’t stop in with the tech field—these skills are also necessary for careers that aren’t as tech-focused, like journalism and education. Many teachers and homeschool parents teach coding. 

Learning how to code can help prepare kids for high school courses and college majors in many areas of study. Later on, computer science classes will help teach your learner how to solve problems with computers by writing code, encouraging them to think analytically and creatively while also honing their problem-solving skills. If your child gets a good grasp on coding when they are young, you may even consider duel enrolling them in college coding classes in high school. 

Coding Games for Second Graders Can be Like a Game of Simon Says

Coding games for second graders use code commands to tell your child to move or go forward or turn right, left, up, and down, much like a game of Simon Says. Your child then types in the correct sequence of instructions, and their character moves on to the next level.

Examples of code commands for early learners:

• go forward one step (1)
• turn left 90 degrees (90)

Basic Programming Also Lets kids Use Variables like Colors and Numbers to Define Characters.

Variables are a way of storing information. Your kids can use variables to define characters, colors, and numbers within the coding games. They are used to describe a lot of things in programming languages, so it’s good to have a basic understanding of them down.

By using variables, your child can store any character they want and then change that character when needed. For example, suppose you had an image that was supposed to change into another image after 100 seconds on your screen. In that case, you could use variables for each image’s name (or ID), then put those images into two different folders on your computer or game system so that they won’t conflict with each other when one is displayed at the same time as another one.

Online Games Make It Easy to Start Playing and Learning Without a Lot of Budgeting or Investing in New Curriculum

There are so many online game options out there that it can be overwhelming to figure out the best way for your kid to learn how to code. Luckily, plenty of online resources make it easy for kids and educators alike to start learning coding without any prep work or budgeting required!

Kids Learn Different Kinds of Coding Languages Through Coding Games for Second Graders

Your kids learn different coding languages through different online games and interactive websites. Choosing more than one game to play can help your kids master a wide range of concepts quickly. However, they might get jumbled up. 

Top 9 Online and Hands-On Coding Games for Second Graders

There are a number of websites and online games that can help you teach your child the basics of coding. With these tools, you can give your kids a head start in learning to write code. The following are just a few examples.

1. The Coding Game

The Coding Game is an interactive website that teaches children the basics of programming by having them create different types of puzzles. There are six levels, so kids will have ample opportunities for practice as their skills improve.

2. Code Monkey Island

Code Monkey Island is another fun way for kids to learn about writing code while playing games online and earning rewards. It’s free to try out. However, keep in mind that if you sign up for a premium membership (which costs $5), additional fees may be associated with playing certain games or accessing certain features on Code Monkey Island’s site (for example, if you want unlimited access).

The plus side is plenty of other programs for you to choose from.

3. Scratch Coding For Kids

Scratch is a free programming language used to create interactive stories, games, and animations. Programs are made up of “blocks” that snap together. This makes it easy for kids to drag and drop these blocks into place. The visual interface makes it easier for kids to understand what they’re doing.

Scratch was developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab as an open-source project and then later released in 2007 as version 1.0. The current version is 2.0. Teachers worldwide widely use it to teach kids programming concepts without getting too deep into code syntax or theory early on. Theory can be intimidating to young students who have never coded before!

The site for Scratch has been translated into over 60 languages worldwide and has over 8 million users. Users have created over 50 million projects! The community on Scratch includes educators from all over coming together online through forums and chatrooms where they can post questions about their lessons. As a result, you can get help with any issues they might encounter while teaching their own classes using this tool. This makes it a great resource if you want to teach your child about coding. Especially if you don’t know much about it from the beginning.

4. Microsoft MakeCode

Microsoft MakeCode is a free and easy-to-use coding platform that teaches kids how to create games, apps, and more with block-based programming. It’s great for all ages but especially good for second graders who find it fun to get started with coding. You don’t need any programming or technology experience to use it. Just follow the simple tutorials, and you’ll be building your games in no time!

Microsoft MakeCode uses blocks of code rather than text to guide users through their creations. Blocks can be dragged into place on a workspace grid depending on what they do:

• Creating sounds
• Animations
• Moving objects around the screen

5. Spritebox Coding

A great way to introduce coding to kids is Spritebox Coding.

Spritebox Coding is a fun and easy way to learn how to code. It’s another drag-and-drop platform designed to be intuitive. It is easy to use, making it an excellent choice for small children just getting started in the programming world. The interface is easy on the eyes and colorful, which makes the experience feel even more enjoyable for second graders who get bored quickly.

6. Code.org

Try Code.org; if you’re looking for an interactive way to introduce your students to coding, try Code.org. The site offers various resources that teachers and parents can use. Its free online tutorials include multiple games and projects that teach kids how to code in a fun environment. For example, one game on the website asks players to build a tower out of dominoes as tall as possible with only two pushes allowed per turn; another has users create their animations using simple commands like “move forward,” “turn left,” or “jump.”

These activities are great for second graders because they challenge them without overloading them with information at once—and your kids will have fun doing it! It is an easy-to-read program for kids who may struggle in this area. If you’d prefer not to use Code.org’s free resources (or if you want more), consider purchasing its paid subscriptions instead: Basic costs $25/year but includes access to hundreds of additional lessons. The premium package runs $50/year but has thousands more activities in addition to its basic content library (check out this comparison chart for more information).

7. Kodable

Kodable is a game-based learning app that allows kids to learn how to code through various fun and engaging games. It’s available on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks, so you should be able to use it regardless of your system setup. Kodable was designed for kids in grades K-5 and uses a step-by-step approach that helps children start coding without any prior experience or training.

8. Code For Life

Code For Life is a free, easy-to-use program that teaches kids how to code without prior experience. The program is designed for kids ages 8-12 and is available for both Mac and Windows. The game-based puzzle format of Code For Life makes it easy for second graders to learn how to code while playing their favorite computer games.

At its most basic level, Code For Life teaches students critical thinking skills by introducing them to programming languages like JavaScript and Python. As your child progresses through the different game levels, they will have more options available to customize their difficulty levels based on what they’ve learned so far in class or at home.

9. Sphero Edu

Sphero Edu is a coding app for iPad and Android tablets that can teach your kids how to code with their Sphero robots. It’s a fun way to learn how to code with a physical robot. However, you are required to purchase the robot. But the robot is a cute little blue ball, so it might be enjoyable to kids with a more hands-on learning style. 

This app is great for elementary school students and up, but younger kids may have trouble following along since the tutorials sometimes are not very intuitive.

Blue Sphero Robot for Hands-on Coding Experience

Green Sphero Robot for Fun STEM Education Experience

Hands-on Sphero Programming Car

Conclusion

Various coding games for second graders are available on the makes to help you teach your early elementary school student coding from home. Plus, coding offers a wide variety of benefits for kids and adults! Encouraging your child to learn to code early will help them stay ahead of their peers and give them a leg up in today’s world.

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