ScratchBeginnerBeginner Scratch
Scratch Basics
A beginner-friendly introduction to Scratch and block-based coding for learners new to computing.
Overview
Lesson 1 Setting Up Scratch Accounts
Learning Objectives
- Walk through the process of logging into Scratch for the first time and joining the teacher's Scratch class
- There is a "Tinkering with Scratch" activity for independent practice as classmates are getting set up
Lesson 2: Introduction to Scratch
Learning Objective
- Introduce the Scratch environment to learners and teaches them to import sprites (characters) and how to edit them
Lesson 3: Scratch Charades
Learning Objectives
- Play a Scratch version of charades and determine the script that is performed by the actor
- Learn how block-based programming works without the complexity of the Scratch platform
Lesson 4: Coding Concepts 1 - Sequence, Algorithm, Program
Learning Objectives
- Review the concepts of sequence , algorithm, and program to give them language to talk about the process of creating projects
- Debug code to better understand the importance of initialization
- Work on a project called "Making Things Move and Talk"
Lesson 5: Coding Concepts 2 - Events, Loops, Animation
Learning Objectives
- Introduce the concepts of events, loops, and animation
- Debug code to discover the importance of "wait" blocks in animation
- Make a flip book to help learners development their conception of animation
Lesson 6: Broadcasting and Receiving
Learning Objectives
- Introduce the concept of broadcasting and receiving
- This is an important concept that enables sprites (characters) to interact
Scratch Projects and Lessons
This section provides example lessons of how Scratch can be used in the classroom across the curriculum. These projects support students in developing their computational thinking and language abilities.
Name Poem Project
Learning Objective
- Plan, build, and reflect on a project where they animate each letter of their name
About Me Project
Learning Objective
- Plan, build, and reflect on a project where choose their own background, sprites (characters), animation, and script to share about themselves
Dance Party Project
Learning Objective
- Plan, build, and reflect on a project where they program sprites to change costumes to create a movement effect
Role Model Lessons
Learning Objectives
- Explore seven lessons about people from underrepresented groups in the computing field who have made or are making contributions to the computing field
- Various occupations in the computing field
Environmental Literacy Systems Project- coming soon!
Learning Objectives
- Teach that a system is two or more parts that interact to form a whole
- About how trees affect people and how people affect trees
- Explore cause and effect is taught explicitly
- For the Scratch project, learners narrate the relationships and animate sprites in a tree connection circle
Growth Mindset and the Brain
Learning Objectives
- This quick project guides make a digital Thanksgiving greeting card
- Animate the sprites in the project and record a message
- The project can be emailed to friends and family simply by copying and pasting the URL
Change-Maker Project
Students research people who have made an impact in the world. Students create a project that teaches others about the change maker of their choice and the impact they made. Duration: 10 hours
What is a Change-Maker?
Learning Objective
- Define what a change-maker is and choose a change-maker to research and report on
Researching Your Change-Maker
Learning Objectives
- Generate questions for their research
- Take notes systematically
Planning Your Project
Learning Objectives
- Animate and narrate the change-maker's story in the Scratch environment
- Reflection and Sharing reflection the creation process and will share their project with others