Code without a computer, learn about the binary alphabet, and craft a simple ornament all in one great Christmas STEM project. Our 25 Days of Christmas ideas is over halfway done! I’m loving all the amazing science experiments for kids that we have done so far. Today’s Christmas STEM challenge is a Christmas coding activity, that you can also turn into an scientific Christmas decoration to hang on the tree.
FUN CHRISTMAS CODING STEM CHALLENGE
CHRISTMAS STEM ACTIVITIES
Whenever the holidays come around, I always want to make ornaments for our tree with my son, but he isn’t the crafty type and prefers the science and STEM activities we do more. This Christmas STEM project is perfect, just like the magnetic ornaments we made!
I love how versatile STEM is for the holidays! It’s a great way to combine easy science experiments for kids with a ton of Christmas fun as well!
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS STEM ACTIVITIES…
Computer coding activity for kids without the computer. Kids can get started with fun STEM activities early. Get kids thinking and creating, problem-solving and testing. Make Christmas coding fun with a simple ornament activity.
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL THESE SCIENTIFIC CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS!
CHRISTMAS CODING AND THE BINARY ALPHABET
My son came home from school talking about a project he had seen in his computer class {for the older kids}. He told me it was the computer’s alphabet and they used beads to make words. Insert scratch head here when he asked what it was all about and if we could do it. After a little digging around, I found out about the ASCII Binary Alphabet.
BINARY CODE FOR KIDS
If you want to learn more about how the binary code works, read all about it here.
The computer doesn’t read the letter A like we read the letter A. It reads it in a series of 1’s and 0’s. Each letter has it’s own code of 1’s and 0’s. This code is called the ASCII Binary Alphabet. This is as far as our lesson went, but take a look at how the codes are made. It’s pretty cool.
My son loves computer games especially Minecraft. I told him real people make these games and need to learn all about computer coding as well. He was totally interested and wanted to make the bead patterns he had seen in his computer classroom. The next day I whipped up a list of the codes which you can also download and print for your own use.
NEW! We now have printable Christmas algorithms set of games for kids you can add to your screen-free coding sessions.
CHRISTMAS CODING
SUPPLIES:
- Pony Beads (a good amount of two different colors and a small amount of an additional color for spacers)
- Pipe Cleaners
- Binary Alphabet Sheet (download here)
HOW TO MAKE BINARY CODE ORNAMENT
Once you have your materials and are familiar with what you are doing, get started with Christmas coding! We picked holiday-themed words like SANTA, ELF, SNOW, and GIFT. You can also do your name!
Four letter words just about fill up one pipe cleaner perfectly. If you have a longer word, you can easily attach two or more pipe cleaners together. REMEMBER: Designate what color is 1 and what color is 0
Pick your word, find the letter, write the code by threading the correct sequence of beads. We have the red bead designated as 1 for the code and the white bead designated as 0 for the code. You also want an additional color bead to separate letters.
He got this super fast and was able to go right through the word ELF quickly while remembering what he was doing with the beads.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 25 Days of Christmas STEM Countdown
Did I mention great fine motor skills practice too? This Christmas coding activity is an excellent activity for little fingers. Remember to use the light green beads to separate the letters.
Here’s the finished ELF word in binary code. Twist the two ends together and you have a cute STEAM inspired Christmas ornament that most people probably won’t get right away and will wonder if you had trouble making a candy cane pattern! Just smile and ask if they know about the Alphabet Binary Code.
This is a great DIY ornament-making activity for kids who aren’t into crafts as much as they are into science and STEM! Again, another easy to set up, versatile, and budget-friendly science activity for kids!
CHRISTMAS CODING WITH KIDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Click on the image below or on the link for more fun Christmas activities for kids.
MORE CHRISTMAS FUN…
LEGO Christmas Ornaments For Kids To Make
Sue healey
Love your Christmas coding decorations. Just be aware that the ASCII list you are using is not accurate – there are always 8 bit in a byte. The leading zero does not show when you type it into a computer. The letter A for example is actually 01000001 and so on. Just need to add a leading zero to the binary numbers you have listed
Erik
Bytes may be 8 bits, but ASCII is a 7 bit code, so the table is correct.
Sue healey
1960s ASCII table was 7 bits but 1980s revision updated ASCII to 8 bits referred to the ASCII extended table. Probably does not matter for these unplugged activities with kids. The Christmas ornaments are a great idea for helping to teach kids about how computers communicate. Will use your idea with our youngest students.thanks
Benjamin McCorkle
You assigned the same binary code to both W and X (1010111). The table should list the 7-bit codes as follows:
W – 1010111
X – 1011000
littlebins
Oh I will take a look! Thank you.