Embedded Files
These projects all use a free, online coding application called:
Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu
As students build their skills, they will also work on Language and Mathematic skills as well. Our hope is that these projects make it easier for Teachers and Students in Grades 1 to 3 to make use of creative, critical, and computational thinking strategies to successfully complete the projects.
Each project is explained, some have a video tutorial that you can follow along with. The project pages have been created for students to use. To "remix" the projects, and save them, students will need to create a Scratch account.
"Getting Started: Part 1"
"Getting Started: Part 1"
Video Tutorial:
Now You Try: Click Here!
"Getting Started: Part 2"
"Getting Started: Part 2"
Now You Try: Click Here!
1. "Hi, My Name is..."
1. "Hi, My Name is..."
Now You Try: Click here!
3. "Playing with Sound: Part 1"
3. "Playing with Sound: Part 1"
Now You Try: Click Here!
"Playing with Sound: Part 2"
"Playing with Sound: Part 2"
Make Your Own "Playing with Sound" Project: Click Here!
Debugging:
Debugging:
What do we do when something isn't working?
When something isn't working, we have to find the "bug" in the program. Grace Hopper, a computer scientist who served in the Navy, was the first person to use the term "debugging" to talk about fixing a problem with a computer program.
These next two projects look at debugging a program that is not working. Good opportunity for critical thinking. Students can look back at the last project they did to help them if they are stuck.
Good job! Now here is a second program that needs debugging, let's see if you can figure this one out too!
Message for Teachers:
Project 5 looks at movement on the Scratch stage. The space is measured from the centre point, which is X:0, Y:0. Everything counts out from this point in positive, or negative numbers. A good way to help students understand this would be to have them play a game on grid paper. They can practice moving their game pieces around the grid following the coordinates given by the leader. Go to X: 50, Y:100. There are many game you could play on the grid as well:
Battleship - two grid papers hidden from view, players call out X and Y coordinates to try to get a "hit"
Cat and mouse (Mouse starts - roll the dice and move that many spaces - Cat rolls next and tries to catch the mouse),
Help Timmy and Tina get Home - two game pieces, have arrow cards and dice
-each person takes a turn, they must pick an arrow card and roll the dice to move
-they try to get to the Home game piece
-several things can be placed on the grid, so they have to navigate around.
The hardest thing for students will be the negative numbers, but once they get it... they get it.
5. "Turns and Movement on a Grid:
5. "Turns and Movement on a Grid:
Now You Try: Click here!
6. "Getting Home
6. "Getting Home
Project Page: Click here!
Can you help the ladybug to get home? Write down the directions you think she will need to follow to get home.
Try to guide her with the arrow keys. You will need a couple of more scripts to make her move in all four directions. Add what you need to be successful. To go to the project page: Click here!
How many steps did the ladybug need to get home?
Write out the directions she followed.
Bonus:
Could you do it with less steps?
What would you need to change?
Project 7: Moving Up
Project 7: Moving Up
In this script the Star sprite will move across the screen from left to right. The sprite moves that way because of this block:
The Star sprite will also move up the screen as well because of this block:
Draw a picture of how you think the star will move up the screen.
Now you Try: Click Here!
Go to the project page and click the green flag.
1. Press the space bar 5 times.
2. Estimate how many times you have to press the space bar to get to the top of the screen.
3. Press the space bar 5 more times. Do you want to change your estimate?
4. Press the space bar until the star touches the top of the screen. How many times did it take?
Advanced:
1. Can you make the star move up the screen in 30 space bar presses? How did you do it?
2. Can you make it exactly 10 presses of the space bar to get to the top? How did you do it?
8. "School Poem"
8. "School Poem"
Project Page: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/92827261
This is an Acrostic poem. When you click on each of the letters, it tells its part of the poem. The poem is not finished. Now you remix this poem and make it your own: Click Here!
Hint: If you drag the Script from a different letter down to the bottom of the window, you will see a backpack space appear. You can save the script in here and drag it out for another letter.
Bonus: Can you make your own acrostic poem about you?
Click on the small "Question Mark" close to the right, top side of the window. Here you will find several excellent tutorials. Choose "Animate your Name" and have fun!
9. "Sprites that Change"
9. "Sprites that Change"
This program introduces Image Effects in Scratch.
When we use the "set effect to" block, we can change many things about how a Sprite will look in the program. Experiment with the other options available with this code block. Write a short description of what each effect does for your teacher.
Continue the story by making use of the other effects available in the "set effect block". Share your story with the class.
10. "What Shape?"
10. "What Shape?"
Project Page: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/92826809/
Instructions:
Click the Green Flag to begin.
Press the space bar to make the Beetle Sprite move.
Remember to click the "Remix" button to make this project your own.
1. What shape is the beetle making?
2. Can you finish the shape with 2 more lines of code?
Bonus:
If you used the "If-Then" block, could you make a square with less lines of code?
12. "Rectangles and Rhombi"
12. "Rectangles and Rhombi"
Project Page: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/92832283/
Click the Green Flag to begin. Press the space bar to make the Beetle Sprite move. Remember to click the "Remix" button to make this project your own.
Step 1: Complete the script to make the beetle make a square.
Step 2: Can you change something on the square script to make a rectangle?
Step 3: Can you change something on the square script to make a rhombus?
Step 4: What other shapes can you make?
13. "Measuring Pixels"
13. "Measuring Pixels"
Project Page: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/92828160/
Instructions:
In the real world we measure in millimetres, centimetres, and metres. In Scratch we measure in pixels. Each step a sprite takes on the stage is one pixel. Today we are going to measure using pixels as our unit of measurement.
Each Time you move the Beetle Sprite she adds 10 pixels.
Can you make a square with a perimeter of 400 pixels?
Can you make a rectangle with a perimeter of 400 pixels?
Write out how you did it.
Make sure you explain how the math works.
How did you know it was 400 pixels?
Bonus:
What other shapes can you make? How many pixels are in each one?
Can you draw a picture?
How many pixels are in the perimeters of each part of your drawing?
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