K–6TechNest
Java Programming
Object-oriented basics
Otis
QuincyBefore you start
- Age band
- K–6
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Quest type
- Hanging Out
- Guardian
- Cass · Box Elder
- Materials needed
- Head First Java by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates
- Coding Journal with Graph Paper
- USB Hub for Extra Ports
Why this skill rocks
Learn to build powerful programs and games from scratch! You'll be a coding wizard, making computers do what you want.
2034Where this could take you
You could be programming the complex systems that run the Olympic venues, or developing the next big app that helps everyone navigate the games.
What You'll Need
Optional materials for this quest.
Head First Java by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates
RequiredThe most readable Java book ever written — uses comics, puzzles, and real exercises instead of dry walls of text. Covers OOP concepts in a way that actually sticks. Third edition covers Java 17. A must-have reference for this quest.
Coding Journal with Graph Paper
RequiredDrawing class diagrams (boxes showing your classes, fields, and methods) on paper before writing code is a habit that senior developers swear by. A dot-grid or graph-paper notebook is perfect for sketching UML diagrams and planning your object structure.
USB Hub for Extra Ports
IntelliJ IDEA runs best when you can plug in a mouse and have your laptop charger connected simultaneously. A compact 4-port USB hub keeps everything tidy and your laptop from running hot during long coding sessions.