Coding@Christmas 2024

Publication date: November 26, 2024

 As the holiday season approaches, EU Code Week invites educators and students across Europe to embrace the festive spirit with our exciting Coding@Christmas competition. This year, we are making the season merrier by offering the opportunity to not only engage students in creative coding activities but also win some fabulous prizes. Whether you’re crafting digital holiday cards or coding a virtual snowflake generator, every registered activity offers a chance to win. Join us as we celebrate innovation and creativity in coding education and make this Christmas one to remember for young coders everywhere! 

How to Enter the Coding@Christmas Competition 

To participate, simply organise a coding activity with your students, register it on the EU Code Week website, and make sure it’s listed by noon CET on December 20th. Each registered activity counts as one entry in the competition, so every coding session you create gives you another chance to win! For more information on adding an activity check out our helpful guide! 

We are thrilled to announce that there will be some great prizes, which we will reveal on our social media channels. Stay tuned and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to catch these announcements! Also, don’t forget to share your festive coding activities on Instagram by tagging us at @codeweekeu. We’ll be sharing outstanding posts on our Instagram and Facebook stories. So be sure to tag us for a chance to be featured! 

Each EU Code Week Hub will randomly select one winning activity from their region. The winners will be announced on January 10th, with prizes sponsored by Micro-Bit going to each winner. 

Festive Coding Activity Ideas 

Need a little inspiration to get started? Here are five festive coding ideas to spark your imagination: 

• Create a Digital Holiday Card: Get your students to design and code their own digital holiday cards. They can use simple graphics and animations to create personalised cards they can share with friends and family. Why not try to follow this challenge from Code.org – Create your own masterpiece! – which is suitable for beginners, to create a unique design?

• Build a Virtual Snowflake Generator: Guide students in creating a program that generates unique, virtual snowflakes. This is a great way to introduce coding concepts like loops and symmetry while celebrating the beauty of winter. 

• Develop a Family Care Helper App: Christmas is a time for families. Inspire your students to create an application that helps families manage their caregiving responsibilities during the busy holiday season. Have a look at the EU Code Week Family Care Challenge, which encourages participants to think about digital solutions for everyday challenges. Students can design features that help track medication schedules, create shopping lists, or even coordinate family events. 

• Code a Festive Light Display: Encourage students to code a digital light display, where they can use colours and patterns to create a festive light show. They can experiment with different designs and sequences to make their display stand out! 

• Design a Winter-Themed Game: Let students unleash their creativity by designing a simple winter-themed game. It could be anything from a snowball toss game to a character navigating a snowy landscape. 

• Make a Holiday Countdown Timer: Have students code a countdown timer to Christmas or New Year’s. This project helps students work with dates, time, and displays while building up excitement for the holidays. 

Of course, these are just a few ideas to get you started. For more inspiration, join the EU Code Week Teachers Facebook group, where you can find a community always bursting with great ideas for thematic activities. Whatever you choose, we can’t wait to see how you bring coding into the holiday season. 

Join in the Festive Fun and Inspire Young Coders 

Register your activities on the EU Code Week website to make sure you’re part of the Coding@Christmas competition. Discover how to add your activity here. Let’s celebrate the magic of coding and the holiday season together! 

Happy coding, and best of luck to all participants! 🎄 

Terms and Conditions for the EU Code Week “Coding@Christmas” Competition 

1. Organiser 
   The “Coding@Christmas” competition (the “Competition”) is organised by EU Code Week, supported by the European Commission, to promote coding activities across Europe. 
2. Eligibility 
   a. The Competition is open to educators and educational organisations within EU Code Week Hub regions. 
   b. All participants must be over the age of 18. 
   c. Employees of EU Code Week, Micro-Bit, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. 
3. Competition Period 
   The Competition begins on the date of announcement and closes at noon CET on 20th December 2024. Only activities registered by this time will be eligible. 
4. How to Enter 
   a. To enter, educators must organise a coding activity, register it on the EU Code Week website. 
   b. Each registered coding activity is considered one entry into the Competition. Multiple entries are allowed if different activities are registered. 
   c. Only registered activities within the competition period will be eligible for entry. 
5. Selection of Winners 
   a. Winners will be selected at random by each EU Code Week Hub from the registered entries in their region. 
   b. Each EU Code Week Hub will select one winner for their region. 
   c. Winners will be communicated to the WP7 team, who will publicly announce them on EU Code Week’s social media channels on 10th January 2025. 
6. Prizes 
   a. The prizes are sponsored by Micro-Bit and are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and cannot be substituted for cash or any other form of compensation. 
   b. Prizes are awarded to each regional winner as determined by the EU Code Week Hubs. 
   c. EU Code Week and Micro-Bit reserve the right to substitute the prize with one of equal or greater value if necessary. 
7. Winner Notification and Prize Claim 
   a. Winners will be announced on EU Code Week’s official social media channels. 
   b. Each EU Code Week Hub will contact their respective winner directly after the public announcement. 
   c. Prizes must be claimed within 30 days of the announcement. Failure to respond within this period may result in disqualification, and an alternative winner may be selected at the Hub’s discretion. 
8. Data Protection and Privacy 
   a. By entering the Competition, participants agree to the collection and processing of their personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 
   b. Data collected during the Competition will be used solely for the purposes of administering the Competition and will not be shared with third parties outside EU Code Week and its partners. 
   c. Participants’ personal information will be handled in compliance with the EU Code Week Privacy Policy. 
9. Publicity 
   By accepting the prize, winners agree to the use of their names, photos, and winning activity descriptions for promotional purposes without additional compensation. 
10. Disqualification 
    EU Code Week reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these Terms and Conditions or engages in fraudulent activities. 
11. Limitation of Liability 
    EU Code Week and Micro-Bit assume no responsibility for any technical issues, interruptions, or other issues that may cause entries to be delayed or lost. 
    Neither EU Code Week nor Micro-Bit shall be held liable for any damages or losses arising from participation in the Competition or the acceptance of any prize. 
12. Modification of Terms 
    EU Code Week reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions or cancel the Competition at any time without prior notice if circumstances beyond its control make this unavoidable. 
13. Governing Law 
    These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the European Union. 
14. Contact Information 
    For any questions or concerns regarding the Competition, participants may contact EU Code Week at info@codeweek.eu