1.8 Virtual Pet
Students will utilize a Scratch tutorial to further their understanding of broadcast and receive while learning about other blocks.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, students will:
create a project using broadcast and receive blocks to trigger a sprite to interact with different objects on the stage.
explore other Scratch blocks (such as repeat loops and variables) they will learn about in future units.
TEACHER RESOURCES:
Do Now (5 minutes)
Careers in Tech
Students watch the video Made with Code: Limor Fried (1.41) then discuss:
Do you agree with Limor, that coding is more fun when making things?
What example of did Limor show, of making something unique?
What would you like to build with code?
TEACHER GUIDANCE: Limor showed a prom dress with lights.
Mini-Lesson (5-10 minutes)
Demonstrate a finished version of the Create a Virtual Pet project, leading students to understand how a sprite interacts with other sprites when those sprites are clicked.
Review with students which sprite’s program should contain the broadcast block, and which sprite’s program should contain the receive block.
Show students how to navigate to the Tips toolbar on the right side of the screen in Scratch so they can begin working on their project.
Project (20-30 minutes)
Students use tutorial Cards and their imagination to create a virtual pet.
The virtual pet will include a variety of messages being broadcast. Students will use code to make their pet behave differently depending on the message that it receives.
Close-Out (5 minutes)
Discuss the following questions:
If you wanted your pet to eat an apple when the apple sprite is clicked, which sprite would use the broadcast block and which sprite would use the receive block?
What other things could you add to your project? How would your pet interact with them?
What challenges did you encounter today? How did you overcome those challenges?
Potential Responses
The apple sprite would broadcast a message when clicked. When the pet sprite received that message, it to move towards the apple and eat it.