The unit introduces students to the basics of coding using Scratch, a block-based visual programming language. Students will learn how to create interactive stories, games, or animations with the aim of raising awareness about an issue affecting specific communities.
They will explore the fundamental concepts of coding, such as sequencing, loops, and conditional statements, while also considering the impact of their digital creations on promoting fairness and supporting development within communities.
Innovative digital creations can provide new perspectives on community issues, addressing inequalities and promoting fairness in society
Communities
Perspective, Innovation
Fairness and Development
Inequality
What type of coding is Scratch?
How can digital storytelling influence perspectives on community issues?
Is it more effective to address inequality through digital awareness campaigns or direct community action?
In this unit, you will investigate an issue that affects a certain community in the world and create a Scratch program to bring awareness to this issue. You will work in small groups to research and understand the challenges faced by the chosen community and then use coding to create an interactive program that informs, educates, or advocates for that community. Your program will aim to promote fairness, understanding, and support for the community in question.
For criterion A, you will create a presentation in your group that you will present to the class. The presentation should be around 4-6 minutes long and address the following questions:
Define the specific type of inequality or unfair treatment your group is focusing on (e.g., gender inequality, racial discrimination, lack of access to education, health disparities).
Explain why this issue is significant and how it impacts society as a whole.
Provide examples or statistics to illustrate the scope of the problem.
Identify the specific community or group impacted (e.g., rural populations, ethnic minorities, women, refugees).
Describe their demographic characteristics (age, gender, location, socioeconomic status).
Discuss how this group’s identity or circumstances make them vulnerable to inequality.
Detail the specific hardships caused by inequality (e.g., poverty, poor health outcomes, limited education opportunities).
Highlight systemic barriers (e.g., lack of infrastructure, discriminatory policies).
Include personal stories or case studies if available to humanize the issue.
Analyze the root causes of inequality (e.g., historical injustices, systemic discrimination, economic disparities).
Discuss societal attitudes or institutional practices that perpetuate these challenges.
Explain how factors like geography (e.g., rural vs. urban areas) or economic policies contribute to ongoing issues.
Share insights from your research about the history and culture of the community.
Highlight how their unique circumstances shape their experiences with inequality.
Discuss any surprising or lesser-known facts about their struggles.
Provide examples of initiatives, policies, or programs aimed at addressing the issue (e.g., government interventions, NGO projects).
Discuss whether these efforts were local, national, or global in scope.
Mention any collaborations between organizations and communities.
Evaluate the effectiveness of previous solutions using evidence (e.g., statistics showing improvement or failure).
Explore why certain initiatives succeeded while others did not.
Highlight lessons learned from these efforts.
Brainstorm practical actions that you can take to raise awareness through your Scratch animations.
Suggest ways individuals or groups can support this community (e.g., fundraising, advocacy campaigns).
Consider creative solutions that align with empathy and critical thinking.
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3-4
5-6
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8
(3 or more of)
i. states the need for a solution to a problem
i. outlines the need for a solution to a problem
i. explains the need for a solution to a problem
i. explains and justifies the need for a solution to a problem
includes 5 or more research resources
ii. states some points of research needed to develop a solution, with some guidance
ii. states and prioritizes the main points of research needed to develop a solution to the problem, with some guidance
ii. states and prioritizes the main points of research needed to develop a solution to the problem, with minimal guidance
includes multiple viewpoints
communicates the content clearly to the viewer
iii. states the main features of an existing product that inspires a solution to the problem
iii. outlines the main features of an existing product that inspires a solution to the problem
iii. describes the main features of an existing product that inspires a solution to the problem
includes unique ideas
incorporates some of the unit's key concepts and global context
iv. states the findings of research
iv. outlines some of the main findings of research
iv. outlines the main findings of relevant research
iv. presents the main findings of relevant research
In criterion B, you will be developing various ideas for your final Scratch animation, based on the research work that you completed during criterion A. For this, you will be using AI tools to help brainstorm and finally visualise your ideas.
As a group, discuss and agree on a set of design specifictions. Make sure to consider:
The target audience
The message/goal of your animation (what are you raising awareness for?)
Will it be interactive? How so?
The length and structure - scenes?
Visuals and audio - colours, voices, music?
Accessibility, such as closed captioning.
Use the AI tool to help you develop 3 distinct narrative ideas for your animation.
Make sure to provide the tool with information from your research and ask it to provide you with some ideas for your final solution
Include your requirements and specifications from B1.
Pick one of the ideas from B2 and use AI to generate a text-based storyboard.
The storyboard should include characters and dialogue, as well as a narrative structure
Describe what happens in the different parts of the story
Using an AI tool, create a visual storyboard to represent your final solution
Your storyboard should contain descriptions of the different scenes as well as dialogue
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3-4
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8
(3 or more of)
i. states one basic success criterion for a solution
i. states a few success criteria for the solution
i. develops a few success criteria for the solution
i. develops a list of success criteria for the solution
.
ii. presents one design idea, which can be interpreted by others
ii. presents more than one design idea, using an appropriate medium(s) or
labels key features, which can be interpreted by others
ii. presents a few feasible design ideas, using an appropriate medium(s) and labels key features, which can be interpreted by others
ii. presents feasible design ideas, using an appropriate medium(s) and outlines the key features, which can be correctly interpreted by others
.
iii. states the key features of the chosen design
iii. presents the chosen design stating the key features
iii. presents the chosen design describing the key features
.
iv. creates an incomplete planning drawing/diagram
iv. creates a planning drawing/diagram or lists requirements for the creation of the chosen solution
iv. creates a planning drawing/diagram and lists the main details for the creation of the chosen solution
iv. creates a planning drawing/diagram, which outlines the main details for making the chosen solution
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3-4
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8
(3 or more of)
i. lists the main steps in a plan that contains some details, resulting in peers having difficulty following the plan to create the solution
i. lists the steps in a plan, which considers time and resources, resulting in peers being able to follow the plan to create the solution
i. outlines a plan, which considers the use of resources and time, sufficient for peers to be able to follow to create the solution
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i. demonstrates minimal technical skills when making the solution
ii. demonstrates satisfactory technical skills when making the solution
ii. demonstrates competent technical skills when making the solution
ii. demonstrates excellent technical skills when making the solution
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i. creates the solution, which functions poorly and is presented in an incomplete form
iii. creates the solution, which partially functions and is adequately presented
iii. creates the solution, which functions as intended and is presented appropriately
iii. follows the plan to create the solution, which functions as intended and is presented appropriately
.
iv. states one change made to the chosen design or plan when making the solution
iv. states one change made to the chosen design and plan when making the solution
iv. lists the changes made to the chosen design and plan when making the solution
For criterion D, you will show your animation to two people not in Grade 6 and interview them to determine how successful your solution has been. Interviewees can either be your parents, or another teacher. Your final submission should be no longer than 5 minutes.
During the interview, make sure to consider the following:
(D1/2) Have I been successful in my solution - ie., in raising awareness about my topic?
(D1/2) Did I meet my design specifications from B1?
(D3) What can I change to make it better?
(D4) Would my animation help to raise awareness about my chosen topic?
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8
(3 or more of)
i. defines a testing method, which is used to measure the success of the solution
i. defines a relevant testing method, which generates data, to measure the success of the solution
i. defines relevant testing methods, which generate data, to measure the success of the solution
i. outlines simple, relevant testing methods, which generate data, to measure the success of the solution
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iv. states the success of the solution
ii. states the success of the solution against the design specification based on the results of one relevant test
ii. states the success of the solution against the design specification based on relevant product testing
ii. outlines the success of the solution against the design specification based on authentic product testing
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iii. states one way in which the solution could be improved
iii. outlines one way in which the solution could be improved
iii. outlines how the solution could be improved
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iv. states one way in which the solution can impact the client/target audience
iv. outlines the impact of the solution on the client/target audience, with guidance
iv. outlines the impact of the solution on the client/target audience