OctoStudio, the free creative coding app developed by the MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten group, is featured in a new collaboration with the National Geographic Society that introduces hands-on learning resources for exploring nature through observation, animation, and interactive design.
The resources include two educator-guided activities designed for classroom and workshop use:
- Explore Your World invites learners to observe animals in their environment and create animated projects to share their discoveries. The activity is inspired by National Geographic Explorer Niharika Rajput and emphasizes curiosity, communication, and environmental awareness.
- Make a Mini Game guides learners in creating interactive games that model how animals interact within their habitats. Inspired by National Geographic Explorer and shark researcher Gibbs Kuguru, the activity focuses on problem solving, empathy, and systems thinking.
Both activities include educator guides, videos, slides, and student handouts, and support learning across science, computing, and language arts. Through creative coding with OctoStudio, learners are encouraged to observe closely, ask questions, and communicate what they learn about the natural world.