6th Grade Coding

Here find video instructions for 6th grade coding. At first you'll just be copying what I do in each video but as you get more skilled I'll introduce optional challenges. At the end of the course you'll be designing and creating a project as a team.

Optional Projects

The way this class works is that we'll be building things at the same time, such as the projects you've already completed. With each project there is a challenge where the project can be improved. Some of you will code super, duper quickly. For you I've also come up with some true challenge projects. With these I sometimes don't tell you at all how to build something. I just show you the finished product and you try to recreate it. You'll only do these projects if you've finished the main project the class is working on. These projects are presented to you in order of difficulty so tackle them in order.

1. Spinner Project (Instructions included!)

To see the project without instructions, click here.

1. Pooping Unicorns (Instructions included!)
2. Insult/Compliment Generator (Instructions included!)
3. Warp Drive
4. Basketball Bouncer - In honor of The Warriors!
5. Health Bar - useful for other games
6. Wizard Bat Game
7. Killer Red Dot Game
8. Explosion Art
9. Find the Dot
10. Tank Battle
11. Music Maker
12. Bubble Wrap Challenge
13. Word Clock

Introduction

• Are computers smart or dumb? We will watch this video in class.
• How do humans and robots approach problems? Humans are better at petting dogs.
• What is Scratch and how to use it. Video 1 | Video 2.

Project 1 - Cloning Cats

• First take a look at what your final project should look like. Click here.
• This video will step you through the process of building Cloning Cats.
  • Note that we're using cloning in this project.
  • In this project you'll learn the difference between a global variable and a local variable.
    • Missed the class discussion? This video explains local vs. global variables.

Project 2 - 2019 Update - Drawing Squares

This project explores user interface design and uses cloning. You can also use a variable to control the speed of your squares.

• Your final project will look like this.
• A word about user interface design.
• Designing the buttons.
• Getting the buttons to work.
• Option 1: The city grid.
• Option 2: The funky clear button.
• Option 3: The speed control button.

Project 3 - Anti Aircraft System

Before we begin our next project we'll take a look at and discuss the following videos, one audio story and an actual printed article. What we're up to is controversial, touching on geo politics and ethics.

• Neil deGrasse Tyson on AI killer robots
• BBC News Report on Autonomous Warfare
• NPR Report on Autonomous Warfare
• An article on the subject from the BBC.

Now on to the actual project (new version of Scratch).

• Project 3 - Anti Alien System (Introduction)
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Aliens - Step 1
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Radar Burst - Step 2
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Radar Bounces Off Aliens - Step 3
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Missiles Fly - Step 4
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Missiles Destroy Aliens - Step 5
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Optional Improvements - Step 6
• Project 3 - Anti Alien System - Turn It Into a Game - Step 7

Project 4 - Modeling a Biological System

Now we are going to be working on modeling a biological system. We'll have a lecture in class but here are the instructional videos you'll need. We'll also discuss this nightclub fire simulation and how simulations can be used to design airport screening. Finally, before we begin coding, we'll talk about modeling and how it can be discredited by those who are opposed to what the models are saying. Part of the Republican platform on climate science worries scientists who are using modeling to predict global warming. You can read about that here.

• Introduction Part 1
• Introduction Part 2
• Introduction Part 3
• Introduction Part 4

How to build the project:

• Part 1 - Make the apples
• Part 2 - Make the add giga button and add gigas
• Part 3 - Make gigas move
• Part 4 - Gigas grow old and starve
• Part 5 - Gigas eat apples and get energy from apples
• Part 6 - Gigas have children!

The Story of Stuff

In class we talked about the materials economy after we watched two different videos. The first was a 60 Minutes Piece about e-waste recycling. The second was a piece made by a group called The Story of Stuff.

Here's the short piece we watched about electronics.

Here's the original Story of Stuff Video that is longer and more detailed about the materials economy.

Final Project - Building Your Own Game

For your final project you are going to work with a partner (or a group of three) to create an Scratch Game of your own choosing. Before you begin we'll talk about some of the basics of game design and what makes a great Scratch game. I'll also help you set reasonable goals given how little time you have to create your game. Remember some of the greatest games of all time were actually quite simple.

If you want to go a bit deeper to realize how much psychology is actually in game design. Check out this video and listen to this piece from NPR. Or you could learn about the world's worst video game by listening to this story.

Here are some well implemented games on Scratch you could try to copy.

If you prefer to tackle one of the challenge projects with a partner instead of creating a game, that's fine too.