The Code Lab, Google’s Santa Tracker

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The Code Lab is one of this year’s main new additions to Google’s interactive advent calendar, the Santa Tracker. It aims to teach children basic coding in a fun and festive format.

Blocks with instructions on them are shown on the left-hand side of the screen and an animated board is shown on the right, where the assembled instructions can be seen in action. The aim of the game is to get Santa to his gift in as few moves as possible.

After successfully navigating Santa, there is an option to view the Javascript that this has created.

New games and educational tools will be made available on the Santa Tracker throughout the month. The next bit of coding fun will be the Code Boogie, where children can code the choreography for dancing elves. This will be on the Tracker on December 17.

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