In this session, we will take a journey through history looking at how games and computational thinking have been best friends. You will learn how games—from ancient Egyptian board games to today's digital adventures—naturally teach kids to think like programmers without them even realizing it. We'll see how the strategy in chess, the resource management in Oregon Trail, and the building in Minecraft all develop the same brain muscles used in coding and computer science. Through real classroom stories and practical examples, you'll walk away with fresh ideas on how to use games (both digital and unplugged) to get your students thinking computationally while they're having fun. No technical background needed—just bring your curiosity about how play can be a powerful on-ramp to computer science thinking!
