CSTANJ CSPDWeek 2026

Bridge the gap from block-based to text-based coding using p5.js, a creative, browser-based platform that blends visual design with JavaScript. Discover how the transition to text-based programming can be approachable, creative, and fun, as students build coding confidence through hands-on, visually engaging projects.

Block-based coding effectively introduces young learners to the fundamentals of programming, but continued growth requires transitioning to text-based code. p5.js offers an ideal bridge between the two, combining the creativity of visual expression with the structure of JavaScript. Through this accessible, browser-based platform, students can apply familiar coding concepts while developing text-based syntax and logic skills.

This session will demonstrate how p5.js supports an engaging, forgiving learning experience that promotes persistence, creativity, and problem-solving. Educators will explore how p5.js links computing with art, mathematics, and design, helping students see programming as both expressive and analytical.

Participants will engage in hands-on coding activities, starting with foundational sketches and advancing to interactive, visually rich projects. The session will also highlight classroom management strategies, free resources, and best practices for integrating p5.js using Open Processing and similar tools. Attendees will leave with sample code, ready-to-use projects, and strategies to inspire confidence and self-efficacy in their students’ coding journeys.