Two new free games available in the Tynker app are aiming to get K-5 students learning Apple’s Swift programming language. Apple has incorporated the games — Space Cadet and Dragon Spells — into its Get Started with Code 1 and Get Started with Code 2 teacher guides, both of which are available for free on iBooks.
Space Cadets is aimed at 5-7 year-olds, while Dragon spells is for kids 8-11. “In Space Cadet, students in kindergarten through second grade solve puzzles and complete programming challenges set in space,” the press release states.
“In Dragon Spells, third through fifth grade students learn programming fundamentals as they train their dragon and collect treasures. In both courses, students learn through creative play as they solve puzzles, build projects, and animate characters.” The games prime kids for using Apple’s Swift Playgrounds app, designed for kids in sixth grade and up.