Introduction to Scratch
Where is the cat going?
Take a look at the instructions below. The are directions for the cat to follow.
Move forward 1 space
Turn left
Move Forward 5 spaces
Turn right
Move Forward 4 spaces
Turn right
Move Forward 2 spaces
Turn right
Move Forward 2 spaces
Turn Left
Move Forward 3 spaces
You have arrived at your destination
Work out where the cat is going, then click the green flag on the map to see if you were right.
Press the Green Flag to find out!
(Press Space to put the cat back at the beginning)
The instructions above solve a problem. They tell the cat how to get to a specific destination. We call step-by-step instructions that solve a problem an algorithm. In computing we look to turn algorithms into sets of instructions that the computer can follow. This is called a program.
Watch the video below to see how we can use Scratch to write a set of instructions that will move the cat from it's starting position to the Museum.
Key Words
Algorithm
A set of step-by-step instructions that solve a problem
Code
An instruction written in a way that a computer can understand and follow
Program
A set of instructions for a computer to follow
Challenges
Using the files at the bottom of the page complete the following challenges:
Get the cat to draw it's path from the Museum to the Youth Hostel
Get the cat to draw it's path from the Church to the Youth Hostel
How to Download the files and use them in Scratch....
...on a computer.
...on a smartphone or tablet