About
Building strong foundations in computer science
Teaching code by empowering teachers
Students stand to gain the most from technology, and every student deserves the tools to succeed. The best way to set students up for success is to help empower teachers.
We provide teachers with the tools and resources to teach computer science at no cost — so every student has access to the skills that will shape the future.
10 million lessons taught since 2014
Designed by teachers
Teachers are the heart of the classroom, and the steadfast advocates for students. They also know what's best for their classroom.
CS First was built by educators who wanted a tool that allowed every teacher to teach computer science, even if they weren't tech experts. So they developed a curriculum that made it easy to teach and integrated into a wide range of classrooms.
Powered by Scratch
Students code with Scratch, a free, block-based programming tool developed by MIT. It's ideal for beginners to learn coding. Students "snap" together blocks of commands that the computer can carry out.
Aligned to education standards
-
Computer Science Teachers Association
Computer science is a growing priority in classrooms around the globe. That’s why we’re aligned to Computer Science Teachers Alignment K-12 CS Standards and the K-12 CS Framework -- to allow teachers to better understand and track their students’ learning.
- open_in_new
-
International Society for Technology in Education
CS First received the Seal of Alignment from the International Society for Technology in Education by offering a curriculum that empowers learners, creates knowledge connections, develops innovation, and encourages critical thinking.
- open_in_new
-
Next Generation Science Standards
With CS First, students can use computer science to support learning in other subjects. We’ve aligned CS First with Next Generation Science Standards: Science and Engineering Practices (NGSS Engineering) to make it easy for teachers to determine the best way to use the curriculum to support standards and instructional goals that are important to their classroom.
- open_in_new
-
Common Core State Standards
With CS First, students can use computer science to support learning in other subjects. We’ve aligned CS First with the following Common Core State Standards (CCSS): English Language Arts Anchor Standards (CCSS ELA) and Common Core State Standards: Standards for Mathematical Practice (CCSS Math). We hope this makes it easy for teachers to determine the best way to use the curriculum to support standards and instructional goals that are important to their classroom.
- open_in_new
Classroom stories
See how other teachers are bringing computer science into their classrooms.
-
Gordon Brune uses CS First to engage students with distance learning
Read Gordon's story -
Mildred Johnson uses CS First as project-based learning for science and social studies
Read Mildred's story -
Kyleigh Lewis uses CS First to launch computer science in her K–12 school
Read Kyleigh's story -
Pam Craig uses CS First to bring creative writing to life with code
Read Pam's story -
Yolondalyn Murray uses CS First to advance young library users's computer science skills
Read Yolondalyn's story -
Tim Hilborn uses CS First to assess student learning in computer science
Read Tim's story -
Eoghan uses CS First to increase access to Computer Science education in Irish schools
Read Eoghan's story -
Iseult became a CS First trainer to help more teachers enrich their curriculum
Read Iseult's story
