3.3 Race to Finish

TEACHER RESOURCES:

Standards

• • CSTA 2-AP-12: Design and iteratively develop programs that combine control structures, including nested loops and compound conditionals.

  • CSTA 2-AP-19: Document programs in order to make them easier to follow, test, and debug.

CSTA

Do Now Diversity in Technology (5 minutes)

TEACHER GUIDANCE: Brina is a software engineer at Instagram, working on the Android app. Brina started enjoying coding after graduating from college when she was able to use it to make something visual (like a website). She says computer science is a way to impact the world.

This is the second day of a two day project.

In lesson one, students created their game assets. In lesson two, students will code their racing game!

Concept Building

This is the first occasion that students use an IF statement in code.

Things to note:

1. Have students trace their finger through an IF loop and answer some questions. student handout Page1.

2. Point out that each time the sprite moves forward, we retest the IF statement. This makes sense since the sprite has changed it's location.
( Note: Continually testing an IF statement, is an important emphasis of later lessons)

3. Notice that the IF statement only allows hexagon shaped blocks to fit in it's conditional slot. This makes sense since an IF statement needs a TRUE or FALSE condition, and Hexagon pointy edged blocks in scratch are Boolean, with only two states.

TEACHER GUIDANCE: The shape of a scratch box tells it's function

Game Building

Students work on coding with their partners from day 1, using student handout Page2.

Showcase and Feedback

If time permits, have teams solicit feedback from others during a gallery walk.

Receiving constructive feedback, code iterations and designing for a target group, are foundational skills in program development.

Sample questions:

Did you know what to do? How could the game be easier to use? (Potential answers below)

• Add Instructions.

• The key chosen to move right is a standard move right command known to the tester. eg. D and right Arrow - used in gaming.

What would you add to the game, if there was more time? (Potential answers below)

• Add animation to the forward movement.

• Add animation or sound "reaction" when sprite touches the finish-line.

• Add a third racer

• Add a counter, showing who won.

• Add a second level

This is the first game students have completed. Students love racing against each other.

If you have already introduced MakeyMakey ( Intersession E), students could hook them up for the gallery walk.

"Don't just buy a new video game, Make One. Don't just download the latest app. Help design it. Don't just play on your phone, Program it." Obama 2013.

Your students have made their first game! Celebrate and showcase.