YOUTH PROGRAMMATIC THINKING

Scratch Coding Classes for Kids

Where creativity meets technology.

Introduce your child to computer programming through hands-on projects that build problem-solving skills, confidence, and a foundation for future learning.

Explore Scratch Coding

WHAT IS SCRATCH?

Learn to Code by Creating.

Scratch is a visual programming language designed to help young learners understand the building blocks of coding without having to start by writing complex lines of code.

Instead, students use colorful coding blocks to create their own interactive projects, including games, animations, stories, and other digital experiences. As they build, they begin learning how programmers think: breaking ideas into steps, testing what works, solving problems, and making changes when something doesn't work the way they expected.

BUILD

Create Something of Their Own

Students create games, animations, stories, and interactive projects while learning how individual coding instructions work together.

THINK

Develop Problem-Solving Skills

Students practice logic, sequencing, computational thinking, and breaking larger ideas into smaller, manageable steps.

TEST

Experiment and Debug

Students learn through experimentation and begin figuring out why something works, why it doesn't, and what they can change to solve the problem.

GROW

Build a Coding Foundation

Scratch introduces programming concepts students can continue building on as they become ready for text-based programming languages such as Python.

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

The Building Blocks of Programming

Students begin developing an understanding of core programming concepts while putting those concepts into practice through their own projects.

Sequences Events Loops Conditions Variables Debugging Creative Problem-Solving

MORE THAN CODING BLOCKS

From using technology to understanding how it's built.

Scratch gives students an accessible way to begin understanding the logic behind technology. The goal is to help them move from simply using games and digital experiences to beginning to understand how those experiences are created.

MORE THAN A CODING CLASS

A First Step Toward
What's Possible.

Your child may start by building a game in Scratch. But what they're really beginning to build is an understanding of technology—and a vision for where those skills could eventually take them.

NO COST TO PARTICIPATING FAMILIES

BDPA Twin Cities provides this learning opportunity at no cost to participating families because early access to technology education can change what a young person believes is possible for their future.

Learn from Technology Professionals

Students learn with experienced technology professionals who bring real-world knowledge into the classroom and help students connect what they're learning to the world beyond it.

Learn on a College Campus

Through our partnership with Saint Paul College, students learn in a college environment. That experience is intentional: we want young people to begin seeing themselves in these classrooms, pursuing higher education, and building careers in technology.

Start Building Skills Early

Scratch introduces students to logic, computational thinking, problem-solving, and programming concepts they can continue building through Python, high school technology education, college, and eventually the workforce.

WHERE CAN TECHNOLOGY TAKE THEM?

Coding is a skill. Technology is a world of possibilities.

The concepts students begin exploring today can become the foundation for careers that shape nearly every part of modern life. Technology professionals are building systems, protecting information, analyzing data, developing artificial intelligence, creating digital products, improving healthcare, supporting government, advancing businesses, and solving problems we haven't encountered yet.

Software Development Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Data & Analytics Web Development Healthcare Technology Government Technology Cloud & IT Systems

WHY BDPA TWIN CITIES?

We're helping grow the next generation of technology talent right here in Minnesota.

Technology will continue changing how we work, communicate, learn, build businesses, deliver healthcare, serve communities, and solve complex problems. Young people shouldn't have to wait until college to discover that they can be part of that future.

BDPA Twin Cities gives students an opportunity to begin earlier—to experience technology, learn from people working in the field, build real skills, and start imagining themselves as the people who will create what comes next.

YOUR TECHNOLOGY JOURNEY

Your Learning Doesn't Stop Here.

Scratch is just the beginning. Explore more opportunities to develop your coding skills, discover new technologies, and continue growing with BDPA Twin Cities.

01 GRADES 6–12

CONTINUE CODING

Python Coding Classes

Take the next step from visual programming to writing code.

PYTHON CODING

Start Writing Code.

Learn text-based programming through hands-on Python projects that strengthen logical thinking, problem-solving, and technical confidence.

Explore Python
02 HIGH SCHOOL

ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS

High School Technology Program

Progress through four levels of technology education.

HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Keep Building Your Skills.

Explore coding, web development, and technology through four progressive learning levels in BDPA Twin Cities' online high school program.

Explore HSTP
03 HIGH SCHOOL

PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST

High School Coding Competition

Collaborate, solve challenges, and compete through coding.

HIGH SCHOOL CODING COMPETITION

Code. Collaborate. Compete.

Apply your programming knowledge through team-based coding challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and competitive technology experiences.

Explore HSCC

Advancing Students from the Classroom to the Boardroom. Every new skill creates another opportunity to learn, explore, and grow with BDPA Twin Cities.