Your guide to Hour of Code

Register your event

Work with the parties organizing your Hour of Code event to register and put your event on the map. You'll receive early access to information about new activities and special promotions!

You can also view the Hour of Code map to see your event, and know that your dedication is part of a worldwide movement.

Choose your activities

This year, the Hour of Code theme is Creativity with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whether it’s coding new apps and algorithms, generating unique art, or crafting choreography to get us dancing, AI is opening up fresh opportunities for digital expression that expand our understanding of creativity. Make this year special by completing a coding activity AND learning about AI.

First, explore hundreds of coding activities and choose one based on your group's age, experience, interests and more. These select activities feature artificial intelligence as a key topic or lesson.

Then, learn all about AI. Students can watch short videos featuring experts in the field, and there are accompanying lesson plans to extend the activity and guide further discussion. Or, we offer free professional learning for educators to unlock the future of teaching with and about AI.

Plan your event

Create a specific agenda for the day and make sure all parties participating (teachers, students, administrators, elected officials and their staff) are aware of what is happening and when. Things to consider:

• What is each participant doing during each part of the event?
• Will the official sit with one student, or rotate between many students during the event? (You may want to coordinate this ahead of time with the official's staffer.)
• Will the official speak to the students as a group?
• Plan flexibility into the agenda. What if the official is running late? What if some students finish their activity before others?

Here's a sample agenda to get you started:

• 10:00 - 10:05 am: Open with one of our inspirational videos.
• 10:05 - 10:15 am: Principal gives an intro overviewing the importance of computer science. Use these stats and infographics.
• 10:10 - 10:15 am: Elected official to talk about their background and how technology and computer science plays an important role in their everyday life.
• 10:15 - 10:55 am: Students do their Hour of Code activity. Fun twist: have a group of students teach the principal, politician, or other students!
• 10:55 - 11:00 am: Teacher/administrator gives closing remarks.

Coordinate with Media

Know who will be responsible for coordinating media invitations. It could be the school, the district, the official's office, or any combination.

Secure media waivers for all students, per your state/district/school policy.

• Adult/General (DocuSign - send link to signer)
• Adult/General (Download and print)
• Minor (DocuSign - send link to signer)
• Minor (Download and print)

Confirm all details

Send the public agenda to the official 72 hours prior to the event. Include event dress code, who will greet them, which classroom or event they will attend with teacher's name, and agenda for the event.

Review the agenda and test all technology the day before and day of the event to ensure the event runs smoothly.

After the event

After a successful Hour of Code event, make sure to:

• Celebrate! Print certificates of completion and congratulate your students.
• Thank the official for their time and offer to answer any follow-up questions they may have.
• Post pictures, videos, or notable quotes from the day on social media with #HourOfCode and @codeorg. (Publicity or privacy policies may apply.)
• Send the official a follow-up thank you note. It's especially thoughtful to get students to sign!
• Follow up with the staff point person on each side for feedback on how to make next year’s event even better.