Unit 1

Overview & Getting Started

THE "BIG IDEA"

This is a preparatory unit, supporting you in establishing a culture of creative computing through creating, personalizing, sharing, and reflecting. Our ambition to support this type of learning culture will be evident throughout the guide.

Creative computing culture has an intellectual dimension, engaging with a set of computational concepts and practices. It has a physical dimension, encouraging interactions with others through the placement of desks, chairs, and computers. Most importantly, it has an affective dimension, cultivating a sense of confidence and fearlessness.

It really helps if you have kind of a culture or climate in your classroom. It starts on the first day – getting kids to appreciate that they’re going to make mistakes and that I’m going to be asking them to do stuff that is hard. I always just put that right out there. And they don’t, at first, just because they want to succeed. Even adults don’t like to fail, or make mistakes. But it is important, I feel, that when you do run into difficulties that it’s not time to give up or cry. It’s time to think about the strategies that you have to solve your problem, or to look for help. No reason to break down or give up – you keep at it.

TS, Elementary School Teacher

Learning Objectives - Students will:

be introduced to the concept of computational creation, in the context of Scratch
be able to imagine possibilities for their own Scratch-based computational creation
become familiar with resources that support their computational creation
prepare for creating Scratch projects by establishing Scratch accounts, exploring Scratch studios, creating design journals, and organizing critique groups

NOTES

Coordinate with your IT department to make sure your computers can access the Scratch website.
Don’t have internet access? An offline version of Scratch is available for download: https://scratch.mit.edu/download

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Ready to get started? This unit is designed for those who are completely new to Scratch. From exploring inspiring projects, to creating a Scratch account, to having an initial experience playing with the Scratch project editor, each activity is designed to guide you and your students through the process of getting started with Scratch.

In each unit, we offer a selection of activities – but we encourage you to tinker with the choice and order of the activities. Different contexts and audiences will invite different experiences. Choose your own adventure by mixing and matching the activities in ways that are most compelling for you and the learners you support.

Not sure where to start? For more support, check out the suggested path through the activities provided below.

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