Other activities

The workshop is aimed at 2nd to 5th graders who are enthusiastic about programming a small-scale game in the Scratch programming language. However, no previous experience is required, only an interest in programming is necessary! Scratch is a coding language for children and young people with an emphasis on problem-solving skills and creativity.

At the Kumpula Campus the club uses the university's equipment, so personal computers are not needed. However, participants are welcome to bring their own laptops if they wish. Participant's need their own computer to participate in the remotely organized workshop.

In this workshop, 4th to 5th graders learn how logic gates work by building different kinds of redstone contraptions inside a game. We use a game called Luanti, which resembles Minecraft. This allows participants to apply the skills they learn in the workshop at home when playing Minecraft. Participants also learn how logic gates are connected to the way computers work. Previous experience with redstone is not needed but it can be helpful.

The workshop is held remotely in Zoom and participants get to play within the same server. That is why participants need their own computer for the workshop. We will use Luanti, which has to be downloaded to the computer before the workshop starts:   

The workshop is aimed at 7th to 9th graders who are interested to try out text programming or have some prior familiarity with programming. No previous experience with programming is needed. The workshop will teach text-based Python programming in a guided manner and implement a small project.The workshop provides a foundation for starting and continuing a programming hobby.

The content of the group is the same as in the previous workshops.

The material used in the workshop can be found. Parts 1 and 2 are used during the workshop.

The club uses the university's equipment, so personal computers are not needed. However, participants are welcome to bring their own laptops if they wish.

This workshop is for 7th to 9th graders and upper secondary students  who already have some programming experience, for example with Python. In the workshop, we will use the Strudel programming environment (), which is a text-based coding tool for music. In Strudel, music is created by choosing sounds and giving instructions with code on how long the sounds should play. The workshop’s goal is to learn the basics of Strudel and create a short musical piece. In the workshop, we will go through the necessary basics of music theory, so no musical background is needed.

At the Kumpula Campus, the workshop uses the university's equipment, so personal computers are not needed. Participants can bring their own wired headphones

In this miniclub, children get a fun introduction to programming using ScratchJr, a programming language designed specifically for approximately 5–7‑year‑olds. The commands are presented as easy‑to‑understand icons, so fluent reading skills are not required. During the sessions, children create small games and stories that are sure to inspire them! Parents are very welcome to join.

You may bring your own tablet with ScratchJr installed, but we also have loan tablets available.

The content of the group is the same as in the previous miniclubs.

In this miniclub, participants explore a variety of logic games and other activities which train logical thinking skills. After learning the rules, children get to solve games and tasks which interest them the most. Participants can follow their progress by filling in a game pass. Most of the games are designed for independent play, but they can also be played together!

Solving logic games requires different strategies, especially as the tasks become more challenging. These strategies are introduced naturally through gameplay. Participants learn to recognize patterns and paths made from different types of pieces through logic games. The task could be for example to put penguins and movable ice floe boundaries to specific places on a board. Logic games are available, including ones from SmartGames.

The minclub includes encryption tasks where participants figure out which symbol corresponds to which letter, along with other logic tasks. These tasks may include, for example, figuring out where a robot will end up on a grid.

The miniclub also offers other logic‑based tasks, such as sudokus, nonograms and programming robots designed for children. In addition, the programme features some optional interactive activities. Among these, the data communication magic trick helps participants practice recognizing patterns on a grid. At the end of the trick, they receive a brief explanation of how similar patterns are used in real data communication. Another optional activity can be the team-based marshmallow challenge.

In this mini club, participants will explore topics that are often only briefly covered in programming clubs but are essential for creating projects: graphics and sound design. This is a mini club you won't want to miss!

During the club, participants will create a simple game and enhance it with drawing their own characters and mixing sound effects. In the graphics section of the club, special attention will be given to vector graphics.

This mini club is intended for children in grades 2-5. No previous programming experience is required, although it can be helpful. The club is especially suitable for children who have already attended our clubs, as graphics and sound design are topics that we rarely cover in our regular sessions.

The mini club will be held at the Kumpula Campus in Helsinki. Participants will use the University's computers and equipment, so bringing a computer is not necessary. However, those who prefer to use their own laptop are welcome to bring one.