Scratch

ScratchJr Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities

Recommended Ages

K–2nd grades (ages 5–7)

Parents who want to introduce coding in early elementary often struggle to find something screen-based that still feels hands-on and age-appropriate. ScratchJr Coding Cards bridge that gap by offering a deck of simple, step-by-step projects that kids complete in the free ScratchJr app, turning abstract coding ideas into concrete mini stories and games. Developed by the ScratchJr team with early childhood educators, these cards were created to help five- to seven-year-olds explore sequencing, loops, and problem solving through playful challenges rather than lectures. We love that each card is self-contained, visually clear, and easy for adults to facilitate even without a coding background. The set is ideal for young children who enjoy following picture-based instructions and telling stories on a tablet. Because the cards assume you already have a compatible device and the app installed, they’re not a full curriculum on their own, but they pair beautifully with a weekly “coding lab” time. Pro tip: let kids remix the projects once they complete a card—changing characters, backgrounds, or motions greatly deepens understanding.

Ideal for roughly ages 5–8 who enjoy storytelling, iPad time, and dragging blocks around the screen, and for families wanting to introduce coding concepts in a playful, low-stakes way.

Pros

Deck of project cards created by the ScratchJr team that guides young children through making characters move, dance, and tell stories, building early computational thinking and sequencing while keeping creativity front and center; well-regarded as a gentle, age-appropriate on‑ramp to coding. 

Cons

Requires access to a tablet with the ScratchJr app and an adult or older child to read and interpret each card’s instructions for pre-readers; older or already experienced coders may find the projects too simple, and some families wish there were more explicit coverage of terms like “loop” or “condition.” 

Because ScratchJr is free and the cards are a one-time physical purchase, some charters and ESA programs will fund the cards as part of STEM or computer-science materials when ordered from approved vendors. Families using personal funds can still fully access the core app at no cost.

Books range from $12.45 each to $37 for the set

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ScratchJr Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities
$12.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Coding
Coding
Scratch
Scratch
STEM
STEM

ScratchJr Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities Mission

The mission of the ScratchJr Coding Cards is to help young children, roughly ages 5–7, explore the fundamentals of coding through bite‑sized, playful challenges. The deck turns programming into a series of creative projects—making characters dance, tell stories, and solve problems—rather than abstract lessons about commands. Each card encourages kids to think systematically while also flexing their imagination, supporting early computational thinking, literacy, and math skills in a screen‑based environment that feels like storytelling and play.

ScratchJr Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities Story

ScratchJr Coding Cards were developed by Prof. Marina Umaschi Bers, co‑creator of the ScratchJr programming language, together with researcher Amanda Sullivan. After seeing how quickly young children took to ScratchJr on tablets, they wanted a concrete, child‑friendly way for parents and teachers to guide that exploration. They designed a deck of 75 durable cards, each with a simple activity that builds on the last, grounded in Bers’ research on playful coding in early childhood classrooms. The cards have since become a go‑to companion for families and schools using the free ScratchJr app.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about ScratchJr Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities

A typical session might involve sitting together at a tablet with the brightly colored cards spread out, picking one that shows a dancing character or moving car. You’ll see little fingers dragging motion blocks, tapping green flags, and giggling when characters zip across the screen or meow unexpectedly, with the soft taps and swipes of touchscreens accompanying excited commentary about “what happens if we add this block.”

ScratchJr Coding Cards is a deck of activity cards designed to be used with the free ScratchJr tablet app to introduce young children (roughly ages 5–7) to block-based coding. Families choose a card, open the ScratchJr app, and help the child follow the step-by-step prompts to create simple animations, stories, and games, building coding concepts through playful projects.

Parent or caregiver involvement is important at this age; adults help interpret the cards, troubleshoot when blocks don’t behave as expected, and scaffold ideas about sequences and cause-and-effect. As kids gain confidence, they’ll often start modifying the projects or creating their own stories with less adult input.

Children should have basic familiarity with using a touchscreen and be able to follow simple visual instructions and icons; early reading helps, but adults can read the card directions aloud. Access to a compatible tablet with ScratchJr installed is required.

These cards offer ready‑made mini projects, which can reduce executive‑function burden for parents and kids. They work especially well for autistic and ADHD children who benefit from visual prompts and the satisfaction of completing one small challenge at a time.

Helpful scaffold for 2e kids who like structure or struggle with initiation; clear, visual prompts keep projects manageable while still allowing lots of creativity.

Refunds for the card deck depend on the retailer; unopened decks are often returnable within a standard window, while opened or heavily used sets are generally not. Digital downloads of any printable versions are typically final sale.

Less suitable for families avoiding screens, kids over about 9 who are ready for full Scratch or text-based coding, or learners who have no interest in programming or digital stories.

Next-step alternatives include Scratch Coding Cards for older kids, Code.org’s free courses, or physical coding toys like Code & Go Robot Mouse or Cubetto.

The ScratchJr app itself is actively maintained, and the ecosystem around it—including educator guides and sample lessons—continues to grow. While the physical card deck is static, families can reuse it many times, exploring variations and extensions on the prompts.

Let your child choose a card as a “mission,” sit alongside them while they build it, then encourage them to remix it—changing characters, backgrounds, or adding sound—so they see coding as a creative tool, not just following instructions.

Contact form

Meet Marina and Amanda

Dr. Marina Umaschi Bers and Dr. Amanda Sullivan co‑created the ScratchJr Coding Cards. Marina is a professor of education and computer science and the co‑creator of the ScratchJr programming language and the screen‑free KIBO robot; her DevTech research group focuses on how young children learn computer science and values through play. Amanda is a researcher and educator who has worked closely with Marina on early‑childhood coding projects and teacher training. Together they translate cutting‑edge research into friendly, practical tools for families and classrooms. A fun fact: many of the card activities began as classroom experiments with preschoolers in Bers’ research labs.