← BACK TO LISTINGS

Junior Makers

Builds branching stories, designs a robot they can explain and modify

Term 1: Systems in Code

Sprites send named messages; scenes/choices as a system. Clones optional.

"Using variables confidently to track and change data across a whole game."

Included Modules

Variable Mastery — Concept Introduction

Variable Mastery — Guided Practice

Variable Mastery — Skill Application

Variable Mastery — Hands-on Activity

"Building a complete scoring system with multiple ways to earn or lose points."

Included Modules

Score Systems — Concept Introduction

Score Systems — Guided Practice

Score Systems — Skill Application

Score Systems — Hands-on Activity

"Using timers to control pacing, difficulty, or win/lose conditions in a game."

Included Modules

Timer Mechanics — Concept Introduction

Timer Mechanics — Guided Practice

Timer Mechanics — Skill Application

Timer Mechanics — Hands-on Activity

"Programming distinct states like "playing," "paused," and "game over.""

Included Modules

Game States — Concept Introduction

Game States — Guided Practice

Game States — Skill Application

Game States — Hands-on Activity

"A first real introduction to what artificial intelligence is and how "smart" behavior is programmed."

Included Modules

What is AI? Smart Machines — Concept Introduction

What is AI? Smart Machines — Guided Practice

What is AI? Smart Machines — Skill Application

What is AI? Smart Machines — Hands-on Activity

"Programming responsive, satisfying player controls and actions."

Included Modules

Player Mechanics — Concept Introduction

Player Mechanics — Guided Practice

Player Mechanics — Skill Application

Player Mechanics — Hands-on Activity

"Planning and beginning a complete catching-style game using this term's systems."

Included Modules

Catching Game Part 1 — Concept Introduction

Catching Game Part 1 — Guided Practice

Catching Game Part 1 — Skill Application

Catching Game Part 1 — Hands-on Activity

"Completing the catching game with full scoring, states, and polish."

Included Modules

Catching Game Part 2 — Concept Introduction

Catching Game Part 2 — Guided Practice

Catching Game Part 2 — Skill Application

Catching Game Part 2 — Hands-on Activity

"Finding and fixing problems across a multi-system game."

Included Modules

Debug & Testing — Concept Introduction

Debug & Testing — Guided Practice

Debug & Testing — Skill Application

Debug & Testing — Hands-on Activity

"Planning a final term project using variables, scoring, timers, and states together."

Included Modules

Game Planning — Concept Introduction

Game Planning — Guided Practice

Game Planning — Skill Application

Game Planning — Hands-on Activity

"Testing and improving the finished project."

Included Modules

Project Refinement — Concept Introduction

Project Refinement — Guided Practice

Project Refinement — Skill Application

Project Refinement — Hands-on Activity

"Presenting the finished project and celebrating the term's growth."

Included Modules

Showcase — Concept Introduction

Showcase — Guided Practice

Showcase — Skill Application

Showcase — Hands-on Activity

Term 2: Interactive Storytelling

Transfer drive to mBot 2 / CyberPi; two inputs; logged trials. Python taste optional.

"Using broadcast messages to coordinate multiple characters and scenes."

Included Modules

Broadcast System — Concept Introduction

Broadcast System — Guided Practice

Broadcast System — Skill Application

Broadcast System — Hands-on Activity

"Managing multiple scenes and cleanly switching between them."

Included Modules

Scene Management — Concept Introduction

Scene Management — Guided Practice

Scene Management — Skill Application

Scene Management — Hands-on Activity

"Programming dialogue that changes based on earlier choices or events."

Included Modules

Dynamic Dialogue — Concept Introduction

Dynamic Dialogue — Guided Practice

Dynamic Dialogue — Skill Application

Dynamic Dialogue — Hands-on Activity

"Building a story with multiple paths based on player choices."

Included Modules

Branching Paths — Concept Introduction

Branching Paths — Guided Practice

Branching Paths — Skill Application

Branching Paths — Hands-on Activity

"Giving characters distinct personalities through appearance, dialogue, and behavior."

Included Modules

Character Development — Concept Introduction

Character Development — Guided Practice

Character Development — Skill Application

Character Development — Hands-on Activity

"Combining broadcasts, scenes, dialogue, and branching paths into one coherent story."

Included Modules

Story Integration — Concept Introduction

Story Integration — Guided Practice

Story Integration — Skill Application

Story Integration — Hands-on Activity

"Planning and beginning a complete interactive story using this term's tools."

Included Modules

Interactive Story Part 1 — Concept Introduction

Interactive Story Part 1 — Guided Practice

Interactive Story Part 1 — Skill Application

Interactive Story Part 1 — Hands-on Activity

"Completing the interactive story with all branches and polish."

Included Modules

Interactive Story Part 2 — Concept Introduction

Interactive Story Part 2 — Guided Practice

Interactive Story Part 2 — Skill Application

Interactive Story Part 2 — Hands-on Activity

"Finding and fixing problems across a branching interactive story."

Included Modules

Debug & Testing — Concept Introduction

Debug & Testing — Guided Practice

Debug & Testing — Skill Application

Debug & Testing — Hands-on Activity

"Planning a final story project combining every tool from this term."

Included Modules

Story Planning — Concept Introduction

Story Planning — Guided Practice

Story Planning — Skill Application

Story Planning — Hands-on Activity

"Testing and improving the finished story."

Included Modules

Project Refinement — Concept Introduction

Project Refinement — Guided Practice

Project Refinement — Skill Application

Project Refinement — Hands-on Activity

"Presenting the finished interactive story and celebrating the term's growth."

Included Modules

Showcase — Concept Introduction

Showcase — Guided Practice

Showcase — Skill Application

Showcase — Hands-on Activity

Term 3: Maker Capstone

Plan–build–test–explain under a rubric and one unseen constraint.

"Using a motion sensor as an input that detects movement."

Included Modules

Motion Sensors — Concept Introduction

Motion Sensors — Guided Practice

Motion Sensors — Skill Application

Motion Sensors — Hands-on Activity

"Programming an RGB light or display to respond with different colors."

Included Modules

Light & Color — Concept Introduction

Light & Color — Guided Practice

Light & Color — Skill Application

Light & Color — Hands-on Activity

"Using a distance sensor as an input that measures how far away something is."

Included Modules

Distance Sensing — Concept Introduction

Distance Sensing — Guided Practice

Distance Sensing — Skill Application

Distance Sensing — Hands-on Activity

"Programming a motor to turn on, off, and change speed or direction."

Included Modules

Motor Control — Concept Introduction

Motor Control — Guided Practice

Motor Control — Skill Application

Motor Control — Hands-on Activity

"Programming a servo motor to move to a precise position."

Included Modules

Servo Motors — Concept Introduction

Servo Motors — Guided Practice

Servo Motors — Skill Application

Servo Motors — Hands-on Activity

"Combining a sensor input with a motor output into one responsive system."

Included Modules

Sensor + Motor — Concept Introduction

Sensor + Motor — Guided Practice

Sensor + Motor — Skill Application

Sensor + Motor — Hands-on Activity

"Planning and beginning a complete robot project using sensors and motors."

Included Modules

Robot Project Part 1 — Concept Introduction

Robot Project Part 1 — Guided Practice

Robot Project Part 1 — Skill Application

Robot Project Part 1 — Hands-on Activity

"Completing the robot project with full functionality and polish."

Included Modules

Robot Project Part 2 — Concept Introduction

Robot Project Part 2 — Guided Practice

Robot Project Part 2 — Skill Application

Robot Project Part 2 — Hands-on Activity

"Finding and fixing problems in a sensor-and-motor robot system."

Included Modules

Debug & Testing — Concept Introduction

Debug & Testing — Guided Practice

Debug & Testing — Skill Application

Debug & Testing — Hands-on Activity

"Planning the final capstone project that you can explain and change."

Included Modules

Project Planning — Concept Introduction

Project Planning — Guided Practice

Project Planning — Skill Application

Project Planning — Hands-on Activity

"Testing, explaining, and improving your capstone project."

Included Modules

Project Refinement — Concept Introduction

Project Refinement — Guided Practice

Project Refinement — Skill Application

Project Refinement — Hands-on Activity

"Presenting and explaining your finished capstone, celebrating your growth through Junior Makers."

Included Modules

Showcase — Concept Introduction

Showcase — Guided Practice

Showcase — Skill Application

Showcase — Hands-on Activity

Ready to Start?

This program is part of the Foundation Pathway Pathway. You'll pick your starting cohort for Junior Makers — the first program in the pathway — on the next step.

Reserve Your Spot