First one is Beaker Browser. I know this isn’t a popular technology - but that’s not important to a teenager. I have been teaching some teenagers how to build l

First one is Beaker Browser. I know this isn’t a popular technology - but that’s not important to a teenager. I have been teaching some teenagers how to build little JavaScript apps in Beaker (no npm or git yet) and it has completely caught on for most of them. These are kids familiar with Scratch but not text-based languages. The nice thing about Beaker is: * They can write dynamic apps without needing to write server code. (We are working on note-taking apps and home pages that save to the file system.) * They can share their stuff and link to each other without needing to publish anywhere. This also makes it a kind of private network, so it feels like a safe place to make mistakes. * Has a built-in text editor and file manager. Eventually they will learn more - but let’s start with just the HTML, CSS and JS - that’s already a lot to take on. * Concept of versioning is built-in, so hopefully this will make it easier to teach source control. Other good tools that I have enjoyed using to teach elementary-age kids: Twine is amazing. And Scratch (as well as Scratch Jr on touch devices) are good preparation. To determine interest level, I like to have them watch over my shoulder while I build something small for five or ten minutes. (Don’t go too long.) I start by just showing how HTML tags work. This will excite many of them - they may even start to conjure up ideas right away - if it doesn’t excite them, then perhaps the interest isn’t there. (Or they might not understand something like HTML yet and need something simpler.)