End-of-Term Code Club Presentations: Showcasing Young Coders’ Progress at Shirley Library in Ōtautahi Christchurch

At Code Club Aotearoa, each term concludes with an exciting final session that celebrates weeks of learning, creativity, and collaboration. Some clubs use this time to play games and share kai and others use it to give young coders the spotlight to share their projects, reflect on their journeys, and celebrate their achievements. We talked to one of the Shirley Library Code Club Leaders Naoe about the club’s end of term presentation and why it’s a crucial part of the learning experience.

Celebrating Creativity and Innovation

The idea behind the final presentation was simple: we wanted to show our club members that working through the Code Club projects is more than an abstract goal. Coding is a tool that can create purposeful, impactful, and often fun projects. By presenting their work, our club members get the chance to view their projects from a user’s perspective. It’s a rewarding moment where they see that their code can create something meaningful for others. Our goal was for the club members to experience the practical impact coding can have beyond the screen.

Also, coding itself is evolving, especially with the growing role of AI. In the near future, programming may shift from building blocks in Scratch or writing lines of code to guiding AI systems through thoughtful prompts and commands. We wanted our tamariki to realise that what matters most is not just technical skills but the ability to think creatively, solve problems, and design for real users.

That’s why this final presentation is so valuable. It’s not just a showcase of coding skills; it’s an opportunity to present their thought process, identify who their project serves, and explain why it matters. By framing their work in this way, they’re gaining transferable skills like communication, creativity, and user-focused thinking—skills that will remain relevant as the programming landscape changes.

Building Confidence and Motivating Club Members

Motivating 9- to 11-year-olds can be tricky, especially when they’re most comfortable behind a screen. We approached it by making the process engaging from the start. We emphasised that presenting isn’t about perfection but about sharing something they worked hard on and felt proud of.

Our tamariki had the freedom to choose any type of Scratch project and express themselves through creativity— by adding new elements, remixing existing projects, or even presenting an incomplete project. They simply had to share something they liked and were excited about.

Enhancing Preparation and Presentation Skills

To help them prepare, we designed a couple of useful resources to guide them through their presentation. We created a Questionnaire and a Final Project Prep Sheet. These two simple resources gave them a structure to follow without overwhelming them. We kept the prompts clear and easy to understand, making it feel like an opportunity to reflect on their work rather than extra homework.

Presentation Time!

The final presentation exceeded our expectations! Each club member had the opportunity to explain their project, what they learned, and what they enjoyed most about it, using the prompts from the Final Project Prep sheet. Presenting in front of people—even a small audience of whānau and club members—can be nerve-wracking, but every child stood up and shared their work.

It was especially impressive that each project was unique to its creator; no two projects were the same. Whether it was a game, a story, or an animation, every project reflected each child’s creativity and individuality.

The audience—whānau (parents, caregivers, siblings) and other club members—were very supportive and encouraging, which helped put our presenters at ease. By the end of the session, we handed out certificates to recognise their hard work. It was heartwarming to see how proud the kids were of their creations, and the whānau were equally proud of what their tamariki had accomplished.

End-of-term presentations at Code Club aren’t just about showing what’s on a screen— they’re about growth, community, and inspiration. Each presentation is a testament to the incredible progress tamariki make, the friendships they build, and the innovative ideas they bring to life through code. We’d like to thank Naoe and everyone involved with Code Club at Shirley Library, your hard mahi is appreciated!