October 10th is Ada Lovelace Day — but as teachers, we can do more than remember her name.
What if you used her legacy to spark curiosity, discussion, and coding in your classroom? In this post, we’ll explore who Ada Lovelace really was, why her vision matters today, and — most importantly — five ready-to-go classroom ideas to bring her story alive in your lessons.
Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) was far more than a daughter of poets and mathematicians. Under the mentorship of Charles Babbage, she saw beyond mechanical calculation and imagined machines that could compose music, generate art, and go beyond number crunching. Her “Notes” on Babbage’s Analytical Engine included what many regard as the first algorithm intended for implementation.
She believed computers could create, not just compute — and that’s a powerful idea for students today.
Perspective & Vision: She saw computing’s artistic, generative potential long before “programming languages” existed.
Role Model for Diversity: Her legacy helps shine a light on women in tech, STEM inclusion, and inspiring girls to code.
Connecting Past to Future: Her ideas link us through time: from mechanical calculation to AI, data, and generative tools.
Here are five classroom-ready ideas (with flexibility for different age groups) to bring Ada Lovelace into your teaching:
| Idea | How to Run It | Extension / Variation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. “Imagine the Machine” Discussion | Present a simplified version of Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Ask students: “What could you create?” | Let them sketch or write pseudo-code for music, art, games |
| 2. Ada’s Algorithm Challenge | Use a basic pattern or sequence problem. Ask students: “Write an algorithm for X.” | Students swap and test each other’s versions |
| 3. Biographical Timeline Activity | In groups, students map key events in Ada’s life + computing milestones | Invite each group to present what moment they find most inspiring |
| 4. Women in Tech Research & Share | Students pick one historical or modern woman in computing and share in class or display | Turn their findings into a class infographic |
| 5. Create a Mini-Project Inspired by Her | Students code or design something creative (music generator, pattern, visual art) | Share outputs with the school or online and reflect on Ada’s influence |
Celebrate Ada Lovelace Day with Code Avengers by exploring coding challenges, learning about influential women in tech, and sharing your coding projects with the world.
Teacher Tip: Begin your class with a challenge: “If computers could solve any problem in the world, which problem would you choose and how?” This gets students thinking about real-world impact and innovation, just as Ada did.
Follow us on social media and join the conversation! #AdaLovelaceDay #WomenInTech
Ada Lovelace: The First Computer Programmer - Computer History Museum
The Analytical Engine and Ada Lovelace - Science Museum