J is for JavaScript - ABCs of AI (Elementary)

In this episode, we're diving into the world of JavaScript, the coding language that makes websites interactive! Get ready to put your newfound knowledge into action with our fun game, "JavaScript in Action," where we guide you step-by-step to write simple JavaScript programs.

We’ll be using platforms like Code.org, Scratch, and Khan Academy to experiment with code and watch your creativity come to life instantly. These platforms are perfect for beginners, offering interactive lessons and games that make learning fun and accessible.

Resources:

JavaScript for Kids Book – A fun book by Nick Morgan that teaches JavaScript through games and interactive examples. Available here.​

Khan Academy – Offers interactive lessons on JavaScript, focusing on drawing and animation. Explore here​.

Code.org – Provides JavaScript tutorials within a structured curriculum, including games and puzzles. Start here​.

Scratch – While not directly JavaScript, Scratch is a great visual tool to introduce kids to programming concepts that later apply to JavaScript. Visit here​.

Kid.js – A simple framework for kids to create drawings, animations, and games without learning HTML first. Learn more here.

HackerKid Projects – Offers beginner projects like building calculators, to-do lists, and weather dashboards to teach JavaScript interactively. Check it out here. 

Juni Learning – Provides a beginner-friendly intro to JavaScript for kids, alongside HTML and CSS courses. Start learning here​.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:29

Welcome to the AI for Kids podcast, where playtime, learning and creating collide bit by bit. Ever wonder how your phone recognizes your face. How does a game learn to get harder as you get better? This is AI. This podcast is designed for kids like you and your human parents, making the complex world of AI easy to understand and, most importantly, fun. So are you ready to unlock the mysteries of artificial intelligence? Subscribe and join us on AI for Kids. Join us today as we continue our journey through the ABCs of artificial intelligence.

Speaker 1: 1:04

In this episode, we explore the letter J, which stands for JavaScript. Ready to learn how JavaScript makes websites and games come to life? Let's get started. So what is JavaScript? Javascript is a programming language that helps make websites and apps interactive. It's like the magic that turns a picture into a fun game or lets you click buttons on a website. Javascript is used all over the internet to make things move, respond and react when you do something. Can you think of something fun you've done on a website, maybe clicking a button to play a game or watching a video? That's JavaScript in action. So how does JavaScript work? Javascript is like giving instructions to a website, telling it what to do when you click, type or scroll. For example, when you click a button on a website, javascript makes sure something happens after you click, like showing you a hidden picture or playing a sound. Javascript is all around us. Many online games use JavaScript to let you move characters, collect points and interact with the game. Javascript also helps websites respond to what you do, like filling out forms, moving objects or playing videos. Javascript can also be used in apps to create features that respond to your touch or your swipe.

Speaker 1: 2:35

I want to share a few fun facts about JavaScript. Did you know JavaScript was born in 10 days? Yes, javascript was created in just 10 days in 1995. It's now one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It's also used everywhere. Almost every website you visit uses JavaScript, whether it's for animations, forms or games. It's also easy to start. Javascript is one of the easiest programming languages to learn if you want to start coding. So how do JavaScript and AI work together? Javascript can be used to make AI-powered websites and apps, letting AI interact with users real time. Developers also use JavaScript to create games that use AI to make characters smarter and more challenging to play with. Javascript helps build educational tools that use AI to personalize lessons and games for kids.

Speaker 1: 3:37

So let's write JavaScript. We're going to play a game called JavaScript in Action. You're going to need a computer or tablet for this week's game and access to a simple coding platform like Codeorg or Scratch or even Khan Academy. I want you to try writing a simple JavaScript program using a basic tutorial. You can make a button. You can make a button that changes colors, you can play a sound or even move a character. I want you to work with your parents to experiment with changing your code to see what happens. It's just like giving new instructions. Share your code with a friend or family member and show them how JavaScript makes things happen. If you don't have a computer, libraries, as well as your school, can help you get access to these tools. You can also use a pencil and paper and just draw out your website and what you want it to look like. That allow you to start building and mocking up your code.

Speaker 1: 4:36

There's also always challenges in technology, including JavaScript. Javascript is powerful, but sometimes websites can get buggy if the code isn't written properly. It's important to write clean and clear code to make sure everything runs smoothly. So how can you learn more about JavaScript? I want you to explore beginner-friendly websites like codeorg to learn JavaScript basics and start creating your own projects. Khan Academy also has tutorials on how to use JavaScript. I will put all that in the show notes for you and your parents to explore. You can also watch coding videos. Look for videos online on YouTube or other free coding sites that explain how JavaScript makes websites and games work. You can also ask questions If you're curious about coding, ask your parents or teachers for help, or look up tutorials on how to start coding with JavaScript, or look up tutorials on how to start coding with JavaScript.

Speaker 1: 5:34

It doesn't matter what age you are you can start coding. So what's next? I want you to imagine your web developer. What kind of interactive website or game would you create using JavaScript? Think about fun animations, buttons or sounds you want your website to have, share your ideas with someone nearby and start planning your first coding project. You can also continue trying these activities at home With your parents or teachers. You can explore a simple coding project using JavaScript on websites like codeorg or scratch and see what you can create beyond the game we played earlier. So thanks for tuning in. As always, I hope you enjoyed this adventure with the letter J for JavaScript. Keep the curiosity alive and join us next time as we continue exploring the ABCs of AI. Bye-bye, thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Don't keep this adventure to yourself. Download it, share it with your friends and let everyone else in on the fun. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. See you next time on AI for Kids.