Code Club Resources

Take your first steps into AI with Code Club’s new toolkit

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere in the news, and you might be wondering how to introduce this exciting technology to your Code Club creators. With our new AI toolkit, you can explore age-appropriate projects that provide a gentle introduction to AI and machine learning. These projects are designed to inspire and empower young creators, opening the door to a world of fun, hands-on technology experiences.

Two boys standing between a sign that says 'Code Club'.
Bring the exploration into your Code Club!

Code Club is the perfect place for AI exploration

Code Club is a welcoming space where young people can safely and creatively explore coding, digital making, and new technologies, such as the capabilities of AI.

Our AI toolkit is a thoughtfully curated collection of ten short projects, each focusing on a carefully selected AI tool or technique. We’ve considered quality, data security, and the ethics behind AI training, for example, one of the projects uses Adobe Firefly, which is only trained on stock images and openly licensed content. That means peace of mind for you, and that your creators can engage with each tool confidently.

And the best part? You don’t need to be an expert, and neither do your creators! Each project can be tackled independently and requires only basic resources — some use webcams or a Raspberry Pi computer, but others only need a web browser. The toolkit has also been designed with flexibility in mind, so you can select projects that match your club’s available tech and your creators’ interests.

Explore our AI toolkit

Getting started with AI in your Code Club

Whether you’re new to AI or are an experienced AI user, the toolkit is designed so anyone can dive in and create something in just minutes.

Each project includes both a step-by-step tutorial video and text instructions, making it easy to follow along. The projects focus on real-world AI applications like classifiers, facial recognition, and image generation, introducing each concept in a hands-on way. And once creators complete a project, they’re encouraged to customise their work and make it their own — a perfect way to let their creativity shine.

Some project highlights…

Chomp the cheese: This fun project teaches creators to combine image recognition with a webcam, letting them virtually “chomp” floating cheese puffs. It’s easy to customise, too — whether your creators want to catch doughnuts, head a football, or add a scoreboard, they’ll have a blast bringing their ideas to life

Explore facial recognition with ‘Chomp the cheese’ 

Dinosaur decision tree: No computers available? No problem! In this paper-based project, creators build a simple decision tree, mimicking how AI classifiers work. It’s an ideal, hands-on way to understand classification — no tech required!

Create a paper-based decision tree

Dance detector: If your creators love to move, this is the project for them! By combining a micro:bit with machine learning, creators can predict and classify dance moves. It’s a perfect mix of tech and active fun.

Dance-off with machine learning!

What do our testers think?

At a recent training event for youth leaders, 77% of participants who tried the projects said that they felt confident about using them with young people in their Code Club. 

And here’s what some of our younger testers had to say:

“I really liked the projects. I now understand AI more :)”

“AI generators are annoyingly inaccurate, but also really fun to mess around with.”

With the new AI toolkit, you have everything you need to introduce AI to your Code Club. Give it a try and watch your creators’ creativity and confidence grow as they explore the endless possibilities of AI.

Top tips for running a thriving Code Club

By volunteering your time to lead a Code Club, you’re empowering young creators to develop the skills they need to shape a future they’re excited about. To do this, you need to provide an environment where the young people feel comfortable exploring, experimenting, and learning through coding. 

Every Code Club runs differently and there is no set formula for what makes a great Code Club. Nevertheless, to offer some guidance, we’ve brought together ten tried-and-tested strategies used in Code Clubs around the world that support creators as they learn, play, and make.

An adult and boy facing a laptop smiling.
Volunteering at a Code Club

1. Start small and grow gradually

Begin with a small group of creators while you establish the club’s routines. This allows you to be more focused and helps you understand the group’s dynamics. As you gain confidence, gradually increase the number of members. You can also grow your mentor team to support even more creators.

2. Be prepared

Prepare for how you want your Code Club to run. This will look different for every club. For some of you, it will involve familiarising yourself with the projects and resources (including the software or hardware) that the group plans to use. Others will run their clubs with  looser frameworks and make project decisions on the day. 

3. Show, don’t just tell

If your creators all work on the same project, consider starting each session by showing a completed version (or versions) of the project and suggesting different adaptations that can be made. This gives young people a clear target and sparks their motivation to create their own unique projects.

4. Embrace experimentation

Don’t expect creators to follow the projects exactly. Learning happens through experimentation. Allow room for creativity and encourage creators to put their own personalities into their projects.

A classroom with girls sat a tables working on laptops.
Encourage experimentation and collaboration

5. Go digital

Save paper by using Code Club projects online. Creators will quickly adapt to navigating between browser tabs, and you’ll contribute to a more sustainable Code Club.

6. Encourage collaboration

Try paired programming — having creators work together on projects can boost concentration, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This is particularly useful in settings where there might not be a computer available to each club member.

7. Foster problem-solving

Resist the urge to immediately fix creators’ mistakes. Keep your hands off the mouse and keyboard. Instead, gently point them in the right direction and let them discover and correct errors themselves. You can do this by asking creators questions and directing them to find the solution. This develops their critical thinking and resilience.

A girl working at a desktop computer with adults behind looking at her screen.
Foster problem-solving in your Code Club

8. Celebrate achievements

Plan show-and-tell sessions at the end of each session if time allows, or two to three times a year to offer a space for creators to showcase their projects and feel proud of their accomplishments.

9. Recognise success

Certificates can act as a great motivator. Explore and download our range of certificates and award them to creators when they hit milestones. 

10. Connect with your peers

Join an online ‘Coffee and conversation’ meet-up to interact with fellow club leaders and mentors. It’s a great space to share ideas, gain valuable insights, and ask questions. 

Looking for more inspiration on running your Code Club? Explore how you can create one club for all by working together to set your own rules! 

From coding to caring: Exploring well-being through micro:bits

Children’s Mental Health Week (5 to 11 February) is a crucial reminder of the importance of looking after the well-being of the young learners who come to Code Club.

A hand holding a micro:bit over a laptop keyboard.
Photo credit: David Bird

There are many ways that we can support mental health and well-being through technology. Our ‘Introduction to micro:bit’ projects are centred around well-being, and use various applications of technology to cover topics such as mental health, relaxation, and exercise.

Pete Bell, Learning Manager at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, tells us more about the projects in the path:

“This new path allows young people to connect with the world around them by making use of lights, sound, buttons, and sensors. By using these inputs and outputs, combined with block-based programming, young people can develop engaging digital tools that help them be considerate about their own well-being and that of others.”

As young people move through the path, they not only develop new skills, but also learn how to make their own tech tools that they can use to take care of themselves and their friends.

Tracking sleep to promote well-being

A great example is sleep! We all know that a good night’s sleep helps our brains to work better, helps us feel happier, and keeps our bodies healthier. We’ve created a ‘Sleep tracker’ project where young people build a tracker to record the amount of sleep they get with a micro:bit.

Promoting empathy and collaboration

The projects in our micro:bit pathway shows how technology can be used to improve lives. The collaborative nature of Code Club allows learners to engage in discussions, share perspectives, and develop an understanding of one another’s challenges and triumphs. Doing this together makes them understand and care about each other’s feelings, not just in the digital world but in real life too.

Our design project ‘How’s your day?’ is a great example of how young people can use their micro:bit to build a program that checks what kind of day you or your friends are having.

Growing coders’ sense of purpose and agency

Our micro:bit pathway also encourages club members to engage in computing projects that address real-world problems affecting their lives and communities. By empowering them to tackle issues that matter to them, we’re instilling a sense of purpose and agency. This doesn’t just make them more confident at coding but also helps them see the connection between technology and positive social impact.

Young Code Club project tester, James, shares more about our ‘Music Player‘ project and how it has made music that brings him happiness!

Encouraging discussions

Finally, it’s important to provide a safe space for young people to discuss how they deal with things both at home and at school. Coding activities like these projects give you a natural opportunity to start discussions on well-being, where learners can share their strategies for dealing with things and learn how their peers deal with things too. This open dialogue will help them understand that it is OK to react differently to different situations and also give them the tools they need to manage their well-being. 

Support and resources available

If you’re looking to get started with our micro:bit path there is lots of support available to you:

  • Explore the Introduction to micro:bit path.
  • Need help? Our Getting started with micro:bit guide has information and tips to help you use the micro:bit projects in your club.
  • Look out for our micro:bit workshops on the Code Club events page
  • Acknowledge coding wins with our bespoke progress chart
  • Celebrate learners’ success with our micro:bit path certificate
Download our micro:bit progress chart

The progress chart and certificate are available from our resource page under ‘Progress charts’ and ‘Core Code Club certificates’. Login and download!

So why not explore the micro:bit path, encourage conversation around well-being in your Code Club, and learn together this Children’s Mental Week and beyond.