Skip to Main Content

Coding for Kids and Teens: Arduino

A collection of library resources as well as free online resources for getting your children or students interested in coding.

What Is Arduino?

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending a set of instructions to the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software (IDE), based on Processing.

For middle school, high school, and university educators who want to deliver relevant, fun, and creative STEAM lessons that enable all students to thrive, Arduino Education’s open-source approach and cross-curriculum content are essential tools that develop and empower students as they progress through their STEAM education.

Recommended Age

Arduino is designed for users ages 12+.

Library Online Courses

Using your SLCL library card, you can access numerous online courses. Both LinkedIn Learning and Udemy offer courses in Arduino for beginners to more advanced users. Udemy offers a course called:

Arduino Programming for Kids and beginners with Thinkcad.

While there are no courses specifically designed for children in LinkedIn Learning at this time, parents and teachers may wish to view the introductory courses along with their children or students to help guide young learners. 

Online Resources

Catalog Books, Libby eBooks, and Hoopla eBooks

There are many Arduino books available both in physical book format through the SLCL catalog and ebook format through Libby and Hoopla. Below is a sampling.

Arduino is available as an ebook through Hoopla only.

Arduino is available as an ebook through Hoopla only.

Arduino is also available as an ebook through Libby and Hoopla.

Arduino is available as an ebook through Hoopla only.

Arduino Cookbook is available as an ebook through Libby only.