This activity is inspired by the spirit of EU Code Week and connects sensory play with the first experiences of coding and computational thinking.

Children aged 4–6 will become little sensory coders by exploring natural materials such as leaves, stones, pine cones, sticks and wood slices. Through hands-on exploration, they will observe similarities and differences, recognise patterns and create their own secret nature codes on sensory trays.

Each participating school will photograph its nature code and share it with partner schools. Children will observe the patterns created by their peers, predict what comes next, discover the underlying rule and recreate the codes using their own natural materials.

The schools will exchange photographs of their challenges and solutions and contribute to a collaborative digital book entitled “Messy Code: Crack the Nature Code!”

The activity promotes computational thinking, logical reasoning, sequencing, prediction, creativity and collaboration through playful, hands-on learning.

Optional extension – Coding with Bee-Bot

Schools that have a Bee-Bot robot may extend the activity by creating a grid with natural materials or picture cards. Children can programme Bee-Bot to follow a route, visit specific natural objects or reproduce a sequence inspired by their nature codes. This extension introduces directional commands, sequencing and basic robotics in a playful way. Schools without Bee-Bot can participate fully in the main activity using unplugged coding and natural materials.

Learning objectives:

Develop computational thinking and logical reasoning.

Recognise, create and extend repeating patterns.

Practise prediction, sequencing and problem-solving.

Explore natural materials through sensory play.

Develop creativity, observation and early coding skills.

Encourage communication and collaboration between schools.

Materials: Sensory trays, leaves, stones, pine cones, sticks, wood slices and other natural materials; tablets or cameras for taking photographs.

Expected outcome: Children will create and decode nature patterns, exchange solutions with partner schools and contribute to a collaborative digital book.

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