The Capstone Project

The Capstone Project

Your comprehensive guide for leading scholars through the capstone project process (Days 3-10). Capstone group facilitation is one of the most impactful parts of your role as an Instructional Leader. You'll guide scholars through the collaborative process of building a minimum viable product, coaching them through not only technical challenges, but through the equally important skills of brainstorming, collaboration, and leadership.

Key Resources

You can find all slide decks related to the Capstone Project process in your camp folder in Google Drive. The templates for scholars are located in the Scholar Folder and the slides you need to facilitate are in the Team Folder.
  • Team Folder:
    • Instructional Leader Capstone Facilitation Guide
    • Pitch Party Instructor Slides
    • Demo Day Instructor Slides
  • Scholar Folder:
    • Capstone Design Journal Template
    • Pitch Party Template
    • Demo Day Template

Day-by-Day Guide

Day 3: Capstone Project Overview
Introduce the capstone project and ask scholars to complete the Capstone Project Interest Survey. Create capstone project groups as a camp team during afternoon huddle. See the Capstone Project Interest Survey and Create Capstone Project Groups sections at the bottom of this resource for more details.
Day 4: Meet Your Group
Lead a brain break to reveal scholars’ Capstone Project groups. Create Capstone Project group channels in Slack. Share the Capstone Design Journal Template with scholars for each group to make a copy. See the Capstone Project Group Reveal and Create Capstone Project Group Slack Channels sections at the bottom of this resource for more details.
Day 5: Building Out Your Idea
Facilitate the brainstorm process which scholars will complete using their Capstone Design Journals. Ensure that scholars receive feedback on their ideas from ILs and peers.
Day 6: Pitch Party 🎉
Facilitate time for scholars to create and practice their pitch party presentations. Lead Pitch Party! See the How to Lead Demo Day section at the bottom of this resource for more details.
Day 7: Building Your Project
Facilitate Capstone Project work time.
Day 8: Building Your Project
Continue to facilitate Capstone Project work time.
Day 9: Building Your Capstone Presentation
Continue to facilitate Capstone Project work time. Ask scholars to begin working on their demo day slides and presentation.
Day 10: Demo Day 🎉
Facilitate time for scholars to practice their demo day presentations. Lead demo day and graduation! See the How to Lead Demo Day section at the bottom of this resource for more details.

Managing Capstone Groups

In week 1, your main role was leading and supporting technical lessons, but in week 2, your role shifts. You will spend much of the second half of camp supporting scholar-led learning as they work on their Capstone Projects. We have created this resource with the key logistics and strategies necessary to manage these groups, ensuring a rigorous and joyful experience for all!

How Many Groups Will I Manage?

Together with your instructional team, you will assign each final project group an official project manager. You will make these assignments in your afternoon huddle of day 3 creating the groups scholars will work within for the duration of camp. When you are assigned as a group’s “manager,” that means you are their go-to person to offer support as they execute their plans and overcome challenges.
The exact number of capstone groups you will manage varies based on how many scholars you have in your camp. We've found that 3-4 scholars in a capstone group is ideal! It gives each person in the group the opportunity to meaningfully contribute while still having enough people to complete the project if one person is absent.
  • During in-person camps, capstone groups are divided evenly among instructional leaders, with each IA and instructor managing 2-3 groups.
  • During virtual camps, capstone groups are divided evenly among the 2 IAs who lead each house, which each IA managing 2-4 groups. Instructors on the other hand, offer high-level support to all groups.
Note: even if you are not the “official” manager of a particular capstone group, you can (and should!) still offer support and encouragement as needed. Both in-person and virtually, instructors circulate among all groups. Still, you will participate daily in more formal check-ins with the groups you manage. Those check-in meetings are described below.

Your Guide to Capstone Project Check-in Meetings

Each day of camp (starting on day 5), you will participate in check-in meetings with the capstone project groups that you manage. These meetings will be approximately 15 minutes and do not need to be formally scheduled, although you can send Slack messages or create a quick sign-up system if you wish. The purpose of these meetings is to answer the following questions each day:
  • Is the group on track to complete a minimum viable product (MVP) by demo day?
  • Is every group member meaningfully participating in the creation of the MVP?
  • Are group members collaborating effectively to make decisions and navigate obstacles?
So, how do you find out the answers to these questions each day? The key is strategic, open-ended questioning. Without asking the right questions, you may not get a full picture of how scholars are actually doing and what they need! Thoughtful questions will uncover challenges before they escalate, and support scholars in effectively developing their technical and interpersonal skills.

Example questions

❌ Vague
✅ Specific
“How are y’all doing?”
“I want to know how this morning’s work session has been going! Let’s close our laptops and have each person share a 30 second update about what they’ve been working on so far today.”
"Is everyone helping with the code?”
“I would love to see what your code is looking like! As each person shares their progress, can you also share your screen and show us one thing you are particularly proud of?!”
"Do you need any help?”
“Let’s have a troubleshooting session. I would love for each person to share one pain point or challenge. I’ll give you a few seconds to think and then we’ll go around the circle and share. After that, we’ll brainstorm how to support one another and solve these challenges!”
“Are you on track to finish in time?”
“Remember, we’re focusing on a minimum viable product for now. However, you can always expand upon your MVP if you have time! What are the components of your project that absolutely need to get done for your MVP?”

[consider using a white board or making a list in the chat]
In addition to strategic questions, we encourage the following best practices:
  • Tell and Show: Have group members show you their code whenever possible by sharing their screen. You get a clearer picture of their progress if you can see their code in action!
  • Promote Group Listening: Prompt the entire group to pause their work during the check-in meeting. Groups may be tempted to multitask when others are talking, but intentional listening will help everyone get on the same page!
  • Communicate Progress: Consider sending a written follow up in Slack to document progress and provide positive feedback.

After Your Check-in Meeting

After your check-in, track the group’s progress by taking notes on each group’s progress using the project tracker in Airtable. Using the tracker will allow your full instructional team to provide ongoing support and ensure all scholars are able to reach their MVP by Demo Day!

Troubleshooting Concerns

You’ve asked your strategic questions and now you know what/how the group is really doing—fantastic! In many instances, you will determine that everything is smooth sailing, and you’ll leave groups to continue working. However sometimes, the conversation might surface a concern that requires next steps. Below are a few common pain points and some suggested next steps.
A quieter voice isn’t being heard
Problem: You might notice that one or more group members might not be sharing much or perhaps they share suggestions that aren’t acknowledged by others in the group.
Solution:
  • Actively prompt quieter group members to chime in. Say, “[Scholar’s name], I’m curious about your perspective. What do you think?”
  • Consider revoicing a quiet contribution: “What I heard X saying is [insert idea here]. What does everyone else think of that?”
Not every group member needs to participate in the same way, but everyone should have input during meetings, especially around shared decision making.
The project is out of scope
Problem: You might notice that a group has an idea that is too ambitious to accomplish during the camp time frame or uses skills that are far beyond what is taught in the curriculum.
Solution: Remind scholars to identify a modest and achievable MVP while encouraging them to keep building/developing once their MVP is achieved. Prompt scholars to make a “to do” list and to prioritize the tasks that are necessary for the MVP before moving on to stretch goals.
One (or more) group members are not actively engaging in project development
Problem: You might notice that some group members may not be participating as fully as we would hope. Sometimes, you might not be clear how/to what extent a scholar is engaging. Engagement looks different for different people, and especially virtually, it might not always be clear how each scholar is contributing. Our job is to ensure that each scholar is writing code and contributing ideas to the collaborative capstone.
Solution:
  • Lack of participation might be because of confusion. Ask the scholar, “What task are you working on today?” If they don’t know, involve the group. You could say, “[Scholar’s name] is looking for some direction this morning. What do you all think is most important for them to work on?"
  • Lack of participation might also be due to unmet needs within or beyond the scope of camp. You can ask, “what do you need to be successful today?” Of course they might share things we cannot solve (for example, a headache), but sometimes scholars might share obstacles that we can solve (for example, reviewing a technical concept).
Group members disagree about the project direction
Problem: There might be a conflict among group members about how to move forward. For example, maybe the group is split about what topic to pursue.
Solution: It is not your job to solve the dispute by making an executive decision. Instead, you can guide the group in discussing potential solutions and coming to a decision that everyone feels good about. You might:
  • Explore options to combine two ideas. If scholars are split about which topic or feature to pursue, is there a way to combine both ideas?
  • Act as the note taker while scholars create a “pros and cons” list to explore multiple directions for moving forward. After exploring each option, scholars may come to a shared consensus.
  • Help scholars themselves brainstorm ways to resolve the disagreement. You could say, “It sounds like there’s a disagreement about whether to do X or Y. Is that right? What could you all do to come to an agreement?”
Disagreements are not always a bad thing and are an inevitable part of the collaboration process. Approach these conversations calmly and let scholars know that you trust them to work through their ideas together. Then, celebrate the group when they decide on a way forward!

Capstone Project Key Moments

Interest Survey (Day 3)

At the end of day 3, scholars complete the Capstone Project Interest Survey to help your team place them into groups. The Kode With Klossy team provides a template for this survey in your camp’s Airtable tracker, but feel free to edit the form to fit your team's needs. Check out this help article for guidance. When sharing with scholars, use the pink Share Form button rather than copying your browser URL, which would give scholars access to your full Airtable tracker.
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Tracking Survey Completion
Watch this video to understand how to use Airtable extensions to quickly track which scholars in your camp have not yet completed the survey.

Create Groups (Day 3 Afternoon Huddle)

During the Day 3 afternoon huddle, your team will create capstone project groups of 3-4 scholars and assign each group a project manager. How you form groups is ultimately your instructional call, but consider these factors:
  • Interests: Group scholars with overlapping interests. When revealing groups, it can be meaningful to share what interest categories teammates had in common.
  • Age: Grouping scholars in a similar age range can help them connect more naturally, since they're likely to share common points of reference.
  • Proficiency: Consider mixing scholars of varying CS experience and proficiency levels, using daily artifacts as a guide.
  • Attendance: Place scholars with attendance concerns in a group of 4 so the workload remains manageable if someone is absent.
  • Time zone: Keep scholars in similar time zones together when possible.
You're also welcome to let scholars suggest teammates in the interest survey, or use an AI tool to help sort survey responses into groups if you're stuck. Note: If using AI tools, do not include any identifying information such as scholar names. Paste in their responses only.
For chronically absent scholars: Place anyone who has attended at least some camp in a group of 4. This ensures the group can still divide the workload effectively if the scholar ends up withdrawing from camp. Do not place scholars who have missed Days 1-3 into a group at all. The attendance team will reach out at the end of Day 3 to discuss any chronic absences and determine next steps.
How To Group Scholars in Airtable

Group Reveal (Day 4 )

On Day 4, scholars find out who they'll be working with for the rest of camp, so make it a moment! Rather than simply announcing groups, we encourage you to reveal them through a game or activity that gets scholars moving, talking, and excited before they even know what's happening. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity:
  • Connections: Inspired by the NYT puzzle, give each scholar a notecard with a word on it, so that the team members in a group share a hidden theme. Without revealing the categories, ask scholars to find the other people whose words they think belong in the same group. When groups form, reveal the hidden theme each group shares, and that those are their capstone teams! Check out the example word groups below for color-based themes:
    • Blue → Facebook, Blueberry, Jay, The ocean
    • Yellow → Snapchat, Banana, Canary, The sun
    • Black → TikTok, Blackberry, Crow, Top hat
    • Pink → Instagram, Watermelon, Flamingo, Pig
    • Red → Pinterest, Strawberry, Cardinal, Lobster
    • Green → City mapper, Kiwi, Frog
  • Virtual Emoji Sort: Assign each scholar an emoji in a private Slack message. In the main room, ask everyone to drop their emoji in the chat at the same time. Then reveal that scholars who received emojis from the same category (e.g., all food emojis, all animal emojis, all nature emojis) are on the same team. It's low-lift to set up and creates a fun, chaotic reveal moment when everyone posts at once!
  • Puzzle Reveal: Before camp, print and cut a simple image into as many pieces as there are scholars in each group. Distribute one piece to each scholar and ask them to find the others whose pieces complete the picture. When the puzzle comes together, so does their capstone team!
  • Group Debate: You could also create a game that allows group members to work together before they know that they’ve already been placed in their capstone groups, building communication skills and camaraderie. For example, divide scholars into their capstone groups (without telling them yet they’re in their groups!) and assign them a topic for a group debate. In some past camps for example, instructional leaders assigned each group a part of the country and had them brainstorm why their group would be most successful in the zombie apocalypse. Give groups a few minutes to brainstorm together before presenting their position to the broader camp. After the debate, reveal that this is their capstone team!
Whatever activity you choose, the key is that scholars experience a moment of discovery! Figuring out their group feels like part of the game, not an announcement. After the reveal, give groups a few minutes to celebrate before transitioning into their first official team time.

Create Group Slack Channels (Day 4)

Once you introduce scholars to their project groups, create a Slack channel for each group.
  1. Click the + plus sign in the left sidebar.
  1. Select Channel.
  1. Enter a channel name, then click Next. The naming protocol for Slack channels is cp_group#_camp#-#_house_letter (Example: #cp_group2_camp1-2_house_a)
  1. Select Private visibility and click Create.
  1. Invite the scholars in the capstone project group, the project manager, and other instructional leaders as you deem necessary!
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How to Lead Pitch Party (Day 6) 🎉

Pitch Party is your chance to really bring the fun—that’s why we call it a party! Consider your virtual backgrounds or decorations, your music selection, and really leveraging your full team to ensure the best possible experience for scholars. Use the Pitch Party Facilitation Slides in your camp’s Team Folder to guide the event. Watch the example below to understand what this key milestone looks like during camp!
Preparation
  • Virtual: Use a waiting room so everyone enters at the same time. Share this virtual background with scholars.
  • In-person: Decorate the space before scholars arrive on day 6 and do a room reveal!
  • Consider a dress-up theme that inspires confidence, like "Dress to Impress."
  • Plan how you'll give feedback: prioritize helping scholars clarify their MVP and provide TONS of positive feedback. Have an IA thread all feedback into each group's Slack channel for future reference.
Process
Plan for each group's pitch and feedback to take about 7 minutes:
  • 30 seconds — Set up
  • 3-4 minutes — Pitch your project!
  • 2 minutes — Feedback from a buddy group
Feedback can cover any aspect of the pitch and should follow the glow, grow, question format:
  • 💡 Glow — something positive about what's working (e.g., "The filter that allows the user to only see relevant results in that category is really impressive!")
  • 🌱 Grow — something constructive about functionality or scope (e.g., "It might help to narrow your focus to one or two core features before adding more — getting those working really well will make for a stronger demo.")
  • ❓ Question — something curious about their technical choices (e.g., "For your Tableau dashboard, have you thought about which interactive filters would be most useful for your target user?")
When giving feedback, the buddy group should choose one person who will give a grow, one person who will give a grow, and one person who will ask a question.
Best Practices
  • Emphasize the celebratory atmosphere!
  • Assign one IL to keep time and establish a subtle signal to prompt groups to wrap up at the 4-minute mark.
  • For in-person camps, greet and introduce any outside mentors and ensure each group receives feedback from at least one mentor. Be sure to thank any outside mentors in attendance.
After Pitch Party
This is a great time for a celebratory brain break! Afterward, scholars will use the After Pitch Party section of the Capstone Design Journal to reflect on feedback received, revisit their collaboration norms, and begin (or continue) building their MVP.

How to Lead Demo Day (Day 10) 🎉

Demo Day is the culmination of everything scholars have worked toward. It’s a celebration of their growth, their projects, and their journey through camp! Use the Demo Day Facilitation Slides in your camp’s Team Folder to guide the event, and be sure to review and personalize them in advance. Watch the example below to understand what this key milestone looks like during camp!
Preparation
  • In-person: Write scholars' first names on their certificates in advance. Use first names only to protect scholar privacy, as many scholars take photos with their certificates.
  • Review and personalize your facilitation slides before the day so you're ready to lead.
Process
The Demo Day & Graduation celebration follows this structure:
  1. Opening Remarks
  1. Capstone Presentations — Each group gets 4-5 minutes to present. Scholars should cover:
      • The opportunity, problem, or challenge they addressed
      • A live demo of their product and its core functionalities
      • Their process, challenges, and accomplishments
      • What they'd build in future iterations
      • Key takeaways from the past two weeks
  1. Graduation Ceremony — Scholars are officially Kode With Klossy alumni! Celebrate each scholar individually and share what it means to be part of the KWK community.
  1. Closing Remarks
Best Practices
  • Assign one IL to keep time during presentations and establish a subtle signal to prompt groups to wrap up.
  • Personalize your shoutouts during the Graduation Ceremony — this is scholars' moment to feel truly seen and celebrated!
Certificates
Upon completing camp, scholars receive a 2026 Kode With Klossy Certificate commemorating their achievements.
  • Virtual: Scholars automatically receive a personalized certificate via email within one week of completing camp. Direct any questions to scholars@kodewithklossy.com with subject line Virtual Scholar Certificate 2026.
  • In-person: Certificates are mailed with your initial supplies. Write each scholar's first name and their curriculum on the certificate before Demo Day and distribute certificates during the Graduation Ceremony. Scholars will also receive a virtual version via email with their full name for their records.