Code to the Beat
Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians
Description
We will use recycled material to create a range of instruments (shakers, drums, rubber-band guitars etc) and experiment with the sounds they produce. We will then build on those instruments using conductive touch points, Makey-Makey’s and Scratch to code new electronic sounds. Attendees will explore different inputs and experiment with rhythm, movement and sound. With the support of Maker{futures} from the University of Sheffield, we will explore creating and recording songs. There will be time for play, tinkering, and working together.
Attendees will gain craft and coding skills, learning how to mix software and hardware with basic electronics. Attendees will be taking apart and creating instruments, wiring the hardware to their instruments, coding different inputs before playing and improving their creations. Attendees will learn how STEM skills link to craft and musical skills. They will see the value of reuse and recycling by constructing their instruments from pre-used materials, showing that STEM can be fun and sustainable. We will use a mix of teaching methods, including worksheets, challenges, direct teaching while allowing attendees the freedom to experiment within safe boundaries. The sessions link STEM to developing a love of reading, as the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Read to the Beat’, inspiring children to play with the sound, rhythm and meaning of words.
By hosting these events in public libraries, we will be able to target families and young people from the most deprived areas, and inner-city areas that have experienced recent immigration, bringing together communities around coding. We have excellent links with Leeds City Council’s Healthy Holidays programme so we can market and promote to those who have less opportunities to engage in STEM learning, embedding these events in communities. We can also make this an opportunity for continued learning by providing pathways for further engagement with our regular code clubs.
We will use the funding to access specialised support from Maker{futures} alongside the relevant hardware (Makey-Makey’s). Library services will provide match funding by using library spaces free of charge, staff time to deliver and support the events, marketing and promotion. This is a partnership with Libraries Rising and we will create a case study to be shared nationally showing how libraries can use tech and digital to reach young audiences and inspire others to replicate our events.
Attendees will gain craft and coding skills, learning how to mix software and hardware with basic electronics. Attendees will be taking apart and creating instruments, wiring the hardware to their instruments, coding different inputs before playing and improving their creations. Attendees will learn how STEM skills link to craft and musical skills. They will see the value of reuse and recycling by constructing their instruments from pre-used materials, showing that STEM can be fun and sustainable. We will use a mix of teaching methods, including worksheets, challenges, direct teaching while allowing attendees the freedom to experiment within safe boundaries. The sessions link STEM to developing a love of reading, as the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Read to the Beat’, inspiring children to play with the sound, rhythm and meaning of words.
By hosting these events in public libraries, we will be able to target families and young people from the most deprived areas, and inner-city areas that have experienced recent immigration, bringing together communities around coding. We have excellent links with Leeds City Council’s Healthy Holidays programme so we can market and promote to those who have less opportunities to engage in STEM learning, embedding these events in communities. We can also make this an opportunity for continued learning by providing pathways for further engagement with our regular code clubs.
We will use the funding to access specialised support from Maker{futures} alongside the relevant hardware (Makey-Makey’s). Library services will provide match funding by using library spaces free of charge, staff time to deliver and support the events, marketing and promotion. This is a partnership with Libraries Rising and we will create a case study to be shared nationally showing how libraries can use tech and digital to reach young audiences and inspire others to replicate our events.
Location
Age group
8 - 13
Difficulty
Type Offline-Event
Date 28.10.2026 10:00 - 14:00
Address Leeds Central Library, Calverley St
LS1 3AB Leeds
Max. Participants 20
You want to take part in? Please contact our local contact person.
Participation is free.
Contact Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians
Website: https://libraries.leeds.gov.uk/
Mail of contact person: Ruairi.lewis@leeds.gov.uk
Share on Social Media
Difficulty
Type Offline-Event
Date 28.10.2026 10:00 - 14:00
Address Leeds Central Library, Calverley St
LS1 3AB Leeds
Max. Participants 20
You want to take part in? Please contact our local contact person.Participation is free.
Contact Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians
Website: https://libraries.leeds.gov.uk/Mail of contact person: Ruairi.lewis@leeds.gov.uk
Share on Social Media
