Members of the Aylus Morris Branch took the initiative to lead the Chatham High School Girls Who Code Club in designing and delivering a five-week coding training program for upper elementary school girls in the local community. The program ran from January 8 to February 5, meeting every Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, and was structured to provide consistent, in-depth learning over five consecutive weeks. Drawing on their strong backgrounds in STEM, particularly computer science, and problem-solving, the members created a thoughtfully planned curriculum that introduced fundamental coding concepts in an engaging and age-appropriate way.
The program received overwhelming interest from the community, with 46 upper elementary school girls registering to participate. During each weekly session, Aylus Morris Branch members served as both instructors and mentors, guiding students through hands-on lessons covering basic programming logic, loops, conditionals, and simple project design. The instructors carefully broke down complex concepts into clear, approachable steps, using real-world examples and interactive activities to help students apply what they learned during the two-hour sessions. By combining technical expertise with effective teaching strategies, members fostered an inclusive and supportive learning environment where students felt comfortable asking questions, experimenting with new ideas, and learning from mistakes.
Throughout the five-week period, the program emphasized collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Students worked individually and in small groups to solve coding challenges, debug programs, and refine their projects. This approach not only strengthened their technical skills but also helped them develop perseverance and confidence—key traits for future success in STEM fields. As the weeks progressed from January into early February, many participants demonstrated significant improvement in both their coding abilities and their willingness to present and explain their work.
The program concluded during the final session on February 5 with a presentation for parents, where students showcased their completed projects and reflected on what they had learned over the five-week program. Parents were able to see firsthand the growth their children achieved through consistent weekly instruction and mentorship. This initiative highlighted how Aylus Morris Branch members effectively used their STEM knowledge to serve the community, inspire younger students, and promote greater participation of girls in technology-related fields.
Volunteers:
Kelly Nie, Shirley Nie each for 10 hours total
1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5 each day 4:30-6:30pm
Advisors:
Xue Gu
Linna Wang