Grade school students in the Marysville School District are finding that out this year with the code.org curriculum. Students are learning the basics of computer programming, and it feels a lot like playing video games.

Students will show off what they’ve learned to parents next week at Hour of Code events.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Allen Creek Elementary School. Teacher Kathy White plans to have 400 computers set up in the gym. Also, the 35 members of the school’s Jr. Geek Squad, made up of second- to fifth-graders, will wear their geek glasses and shirts and receive certificates. The squad is made up of volunteers who apply, are trained and are committed to helping others.

“They’re not quite experts because we just started early in the year, but they have a desire and confidence and like to help others write code,” White said.

Second-grader Cecelia Emerson got a head start on her classmates writing code because her first two years of school she went to Lowell Elementary in Everett. She said she’s programmed her own Flappy Bird video game.

“They think it’s a game, and they’re not doing anything,” White said, adding older kids can make games with popular characters from Angry Birds and Frozen.

Classmate Mischa Moody said she also has some experience coding at schools in New York. She likes being able to partner with one of her best friends, Kennedy McDonald.

“We help each other,” Mischa said.

White said with peer partnering students help each other if they don’t get it.

“Their confidence takes off,” she said. “They can’t wait for code. It’s so much fun.”

With code.org, it’s even fun if students make a mistake because it helps them figure out what they did wrong, guiding them to success.

“Yea,” Cecelia said, gesturing with her hand after figuring out which code she had left out.

“They learn problem solving and debugging if they make a mistake so they feel empowered,” White said. “It takes away the scariness of computer science for the kids.”

Unlike MSD middle and high schoolers, the grade school students don’t have their own Chromebooks. Each school has four carts with 34 Chromebooks each that are shared.

“At least they get exposed to it,” White said.

She said she teaches the students that computers can’t do anything with them.

“Computers aren’t very smart are they?” she asked, as they all answered no.

Hour of Code events

Marshall: Dec. 8, 6-7:30 p.m.

Pinewood: Dec 8, 6-8 p.m.

Allen Creek: Dec. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. and mornings all week.

Cascade: Dec. 8-10 before school.

Sunnyside: Dec. 8-10 before school.

Kellogg Marsh: Dec. 10, 5:30-7 p.m.

Shoultes: Dec. 11, 5-7 p.m.