DegenSTEAM is once again teamed with Susquehanna Kids to bring the Hour of AI™, formerly the Hour of Code™, to our local region. The Hour of AI™ is a worldwide movement that aims to introduce millions of students to computer science through one-hour coding activities. Through Hour of AI, we aim to demystify coding and show that anyone can learn the basics, inspiring future interest in computer science.
Susquehanna Kids has improved and expanded our initiative to bring this global computer science program to the Valley for the second year in a row! Thanks to support from DegenSTEAM and a PA Smart Grant, students across our region will participate in the Hour of AI™ from Code.org—a free, one-hour introduction to artificial intelligence that makes AI feel understandable, creative, and fun for every learner.
Whether students are brand new to AI or already exploring it, the Hour of AI™ is designed to be accessible, engaging, and empowering, inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. We’ve invited all local educators to participate in this exciting event during Computer Science Education Week (December 8-12), inspiring students to explore computer science with just one hour of coding. By joining us, you’ll be opening doors for kids to continue their STEM journey with hand-picked, affordable programs this spring and summer.
Want to Learn More?
Check out the informational summary below, as well as links which include FAQ’s, stats, and more!
Local Hour of AI™ Participants
Schools:
Benton Area School District
Bloomsburg Area School District
Central Columbia Elementary & Middle School
Columbia County Christian School
Danville Middle School
Millville Area School District
Mt. Carmel Area School District
Shikellamy Middle School
Southern Columbia Area School District
St. Josephs Catholic School
Out of School Programs:
Berwick Teen Center
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum
Bloomsburg Public Library
Bloomsburg Teen Center
Bloomsburg YMCA Childcare
Columbia County Traveling Library
Danville Area Community Center
Degenstein Community Library
Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA
Girls on the Run
Lewisburg Linntown – Girl Scouts
Lewisburg YMCA
Selinsgrove Regional Engagement Center
Snyder County 4-H
SUMMIT Early Learning
The Improved Milton Experience and Milton Community Center
Union County 4-H
Don’t see your school or organization, but want to get involved?
What Does It Look Like?
Check out this short video to catch a glimpse into what kind of activies the students will be exploring!
Examples of Hour of AI™ Lessons by Grade
Grades 1st–2nd:LEGO Education: Modeling Machine Learning & AI Oceans – Explore artificial intelligence concepts in a fun and interactive way.
[Educator resources for LEGO and AI Oceans]
Grades 2nd–4th: Mix & Move (See above YouTube video) – Design your own dancer, code a music remix, and choreograph a dance — all in one experience! Students explore three creative stages, using AI prompts to spark inspiration and coding concepts to customize their final project. No prior experience needed.
Grades 5th and Up: Mix & Move or Exploring AI with Scratch Face and Sensing Blocks – Use Scratch Face Sensing blocks to control a game with a face tilt, draw with your nose, create face filters, and more! Test for false negatives or positives.
Impact Report 2024
Check out last years initiative in our impact report, which includes AI activities, successes, and impacts: