🎄December 2021

Code for Life Newsletter

Seasons greetings from us all at Code for Life

It's that time of year again when we switch on the snow in our Rapid Router game and ask Rudolph to help with our deliveries!

We thought we would celebrate something related to Christmas and what better way to do that than to learn about Thomas Cane's light-up stocking invention? Read about it below.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a children's device capable of providing selective illumination to signal the arrival of Santa Claus. Sourced from Google patents

Thomas' magical Christmas invention is a stocking with a light signalling the arrival of Santa Claus. The stocking features a light and power source, as well as a switch to connect the light to the power (and therefore light up). A chord or ribbon needs to be pulled for the light to light up. This, of course, is a job for Santa ;) So, anyone with a stocking invented by Thomas Cane will know if you’ve been good when you wake up on Christmas day and the stocking is lit and there are presents around your tree!

Want to make your own?

You could adapt this idea with your class to use the sound sensor in a micro:bit. Here is a micro:bit project that creates a graph on the LED output to show the sound level. You could make a Christmas tune play if anyone pulls on your Santa detector!

Level 59

We have turned on the snow!

Check out Rapid Router - it's started to snow! Can you help Rudolph and Santa get those deliveries done in time this year?

Check out level 59 and see for yourself.

Can you solve our festive puzzle?

Here is a Nonogram. Print off the grid here. The rules are simple.

You have a grid of squares, which must be either filled in black or marked with X. Beside each row of the grid are listed the lengths of the runs of black squares together on that row. Above each column are listed the lengths of the runs of black squares in that column. Your aim is to find all black squares.

Under the Spotlight

Anthony Youngman

Anthony works as a roster analyst in the department responsible for Business Analysis. His role is extremely important in helping Ocado Group get groceries out to its customers. His job is to prepare the 13-week rosters in advance before they are sent out to drivers letting them know when they are working. Having been a driver last year, this year Anthony wanted to help by making such a busy period as easy as possible.

"I'm spending this Christmas trying to give the drivers the present of a roster that fits in with their lifestyle."

Just like our Rapid Router challenges, it is all about efficiency and saving energy wherever possible at Ocado Group, so making sure the drivers know their roster ahead of time means that the full service can be much smoother.

Can you get creative this Christmas?

Our Code for Life teaching consultant has been busy at her school this year, and when she showed us this, we had to put it in the newsletter to show you! If you look closely, you can spot all the different computer elements.

Christmas Wreath made from computer parts

Why don't you have a go yourself?

Let us know what you think of our newsletter by getting in touch and sharing your thoughts and ideas. Is there anything else you'd like us to include?