Scratch Coding Lesson
Overview
In this Scratch coding lesson, elementary students learn to code by following creative prompts to make interactive projects. Using Scratch, they create animations, games, or stories based on given challenges, such as making a character dance or creating a simple game. This hands-on activity introduces them to basic programming concepts like loops, conditionals, and variables.
Introduction
Subjects: • Computer Science • Math • Art
Time: 30-60 minutes
Skills: • Basic Programming Concepts • Problem-Solving • Logic
Learning Objective/Goal:
- Understand and apply basic programming concepts using Scratch.
- Create interactive projects based on given prompts.
- Develop problem-solving skills through coding challenges.
- https://scratch.mit.edu/
Materials Needed:
- Computers or tablets with internet access
- Scratch accounts (free, if the students want to save their work)
- Projector or smartboard for demonstrations
Background
Background:
Scratch is a free programming language and online community where students can create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. By using Scratch, students can learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
Activity
Introduction
- Introduce Scratch and explain its purpose. Show a few examples of projects created in Scratch.
- Demonstrate basic Scratch concepts: sprites, scripts, blocks (motion, looks, sound, events, control), and the stage.
Prompts & Coding:
- To give students ideas to get started, put a list of prompts on the board
- Have students choose a prompt and help them get set up and started
Optional - Presentaiton:
- When everyone has finished, encourage the students to stand up and share what they've created with the class
Prompts
Simple Maze Game: Create a maze game where the player has to navigate a character through a maze to reach the end.
Clicker Game: Make a game where the player earns points by clicking on a moving object.
Color Changing Sprite: Program a sprite to change colors when clicked.
Catch the Falling Objects: Create a game where the player catches falling objects in a basket or on a platform.
Drawing App: Make an app where the player can draw on the screen using different colors and brush sizes.
Simon Says: Create a game where the player has to follow a sequence of lights and sounds.
Quiz Game: Develop a quiz game with multiple-choice questions on a topic of interest.
Race Game: Make a racing game where the player has to avoid obstacles and reach the finish line.
Pong Game: Create a classic Pong game where the player controls a paddle to hit a ball back and forth.
Treasure Hunt: Develop a game where the player searches for hidden treasures on a map.
Whack-a-Mole: Design a Whack-a-Mole game where the player hits moles popping out
Extra
Tips for Students:
- Always save frequently!! Even when you think you don’t need to or already have, hit the save button just to be safe.
- Test your code frequently to catch and fix errors early.
Tips for Teachers:
- Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes.
- Use these projects as a way to showcase student work in your classroom online, with parents, or in the school
Extensions:
- Challenge students to add more features to their projects, such as levels, power-ups, or multiple endings.
- Have students create a tutorial for their project to teach others how to build something similar.