Students get an early lesson in computer coding on Milwaukee's south side

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- This is National Computer Science Education Week, and at Milwaukee's Rocketship Southside Community Prep, students are having a little fun while they learn. 

We stopped by Tuesday as 3rd and 4th graders were getting an early lesson in computer coding.

They call this their Hour of Code. Volunteers from Northwestern Mutual conducted a classroom demonstration of coding, and what better way to get and keep the kids' attention than by using video games as part of the lesson?

"It makes it appealing to our students that our teachers use Minecraft and Super Mario, because it makes them want to...they are already playing some games of that at home, so having that instruction here at school, it makes them want to learn more," said Elsy Villafuentes, Rocketship Public Schools.

And of course, computer coding is a skill that could take these kids a long way if they choose to pursue it. 

For Northwestern Mutual, this is part of their STEM outreach program.