As technology continues to transform our planet, it’s more important than ever for students to understand the impact it plays in our everyday lives and recognize their growing role in creating future innovations that positively impact society. December 6-12, classrooms around the world will celebrate Computer Science Education Week and millions of students and educators will participate in Hour of Code as part of a global movement to demystify, democratize and spark interest in coding and computer science.

At Microsoft, we’re committed to continuing to provide accessible, engaging, and equitable computer science education experiences that open opportunities for youth today and in the future. We are inspired by the global community of dedicated educators and volunteers who continue to lead coding tutorials in classrooms and communities around the world to support students on their first steps toward learning how to code.

To celebrate this year’s Computer Science Education Week, we’re excited to announce a new Minecraft: Education Edition Hour of Code and a MakeCode Arcade Hour of Code. New this year, educators can sign up to have a Microsoft Education Expert lead their classroom through an Hour of Code lesson!

Travel through time and solve coding puzzles in the new Minecraft Hour of Code

Travel back in time to save the future with Hour of Code: TimeCraft! In this new lesson for Minecraft: Education Edition, students will travel back in time to help some of history’s greatest innovators in science, architecture, music, and engineering by solving coding puzzles. From a 1920s New York jazz club to the Great Wall of China, computer science is truly everywhere this year, and for everyone!

Hour of Code: TimeCraft is available for free in Minecraft: Education Edition and can be downloaded and accessed even if you don’t have a log-in from your school. Anyone can do an Hour of Code—in the classroom or at home—and Minecraft: Education Edition lets you code with blocks or Python.

To help you prepare to run code with your students for Computer Science Education Week, Minecraft provides educators with Hour of Code resources in more than 25 languages, including an educator guide, lesson plan, and solutions guide. Read more about the new Minecraft Hour of Code and get ready for a journey through time!

Learn about climate change and code your own game with MakeCode Arcade’s Save the Forest Hour of Code lesson

In MakeCode Arcade, students will learn how computers and technology can help with some of the most pressing environmental problems our planet is facing. In this year’s lesson, Save the Forest, students will be able to code a game that recreates the conditions for a forest fire, then code a firefighting airtanker that sprays water to put out the flames! Students will be able to share the games they create with peers, explore other game-building activities, and learn about climate issues.


To accompany this year’s activity, in partnership with the US Department of State, MakeCode is announcing the inaugural Global MakeCode Arcade Game Jam that will challenge students to either modify their Save the Forest game or develop a new game that works with the Game Jam theme. The State Department and Microsoft will launch the Game Jam on November 29 and host a series of virtual and hybrid Game Jam opportunities at American Spaces across the world.

Prepare your classrooms to save the forest and participate in the Global MakeCode Arcade Game Jam by exploring the following educator resources.

Sign your classroom up for engaging virtual Hour of Code experiences taking place during #CSEdWeek!

This year, to help support educators during Computer Science Education Week, we’re hosting professional development opportunities to prepare educators to lead Hour of Code sessions with Minecraft: Education Edition and MakeCode Arcade in their classrooms. And remember that new this year, educators can sign up to have a Microsoft Education Expert lead their classroom through an Hour of Code lesson with Minecraft, MakeCode Arcade, or HackingSTEM during #CSEdWeek! 

Learn more about the scheduled events and register today

We can’t wait for a week of learning, exploring, and inspiring students with the power of code!