Code.org, Disney and Lucasfilm Broaden Participation in Science with Star Wars™ Hour of Code Tutorial

This week, Code.org, Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled a Star Wars™-themed computer science tutorial featuring Princess Leia, C-3PO and R2-D2, as well as Rey and BB-8 from the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The online lesson kicks off the third-annual Hour of Code campaign, a worldwide effort to broaden participation in computer science during Computer Science Education Week, December 7–13.

Through this tutorial, students will learn to write code, creating fun challenges and games using Star Wars characters. Participants will join forces with Rey to guide BB-8 through a space mission, then team up with Princess Leia to build their own game featuring R2-D2 and C-3PO.

“For generations, Star Wars has sparked kids’ curiosity and imagination, and we hope the appeal of characters like Princess Leia and Rey will help fuel greater participation in science and math, especially among girls, around the world,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm. “Computer science has helped shape our legacy and changed the way movies are made, which is why programs like the Hour of Code are so important to Lucasfilm.”

This is Code.org’s third computer science lesson created with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, following “Frozen with Anna and Elsa”—which President Obama participated in at the White House for the Hour of Code last December—and “Infinity Play Lab,” which was released earlier this year.

“Disney is driven by storytelling and technology—and we know that kids introduced to computer science today will become the innovators and storytellers of tomorrow,” said Jimmy Pitaro, co-chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “We are honored to be working with Code.org again this year to introduce millions of students to coding, which is becoming one of the most important languages of their generation.”

In addition to partnering with Code.org to make the Star Wars-inspired tutorial available for free in more than 180 countries, The Walt Disney Company is donating $100,000 to support Code.org’s efforts to bring computer science education to afterschool programs throughout the United States.

One lucky classroom will win the grand prize: a trip to San Francisco, California, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes “Making of Star Wars” experience with the visual effects team who worked on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The grand prize is courtesy of ILMxLAB, a new laboratory for immersive entertainment, combining the talents of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound.

Sphero, a company that participated in the 2014 Disney Accelerator, will also be gifting a BB-8TM app-enabled droid to 100 participating classrooms. During Computer Science Education Week in December, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media will host an Hour of Code event for local students at their Los Angeles office, and Disney VoluntEARS will support Hour of Code events around the world.

To date, Hour of Code tutorials have been completed 14 million times by learners, in 40 languages.

Try a preview of the “Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code” tutorial now on Code.org or sign up to participate in an Hour of Code event today.

- Laura Cirigliano, Disney Interactive