ScratchJr

Inspired by Scratch, ScratchJr was developed as an introductory programming language for pre-readers. It allows pre and early readers to create animations, stories, and games using code blocks which do not require reading for use.

iOS | Google Play | Chromebook

PBS Kids Version: iOS | Google Play

Exploration:

This is a "getting to know" the app time - a time to learn a bit about how it works. This is the time to: Check out the Interface Guide and the Paint Editor Guide, Create a new project, Delete a project, Add and delete characters, Add and delete scenes, Use the camera to add your face to a character or to take a picture for the background of a scene, Draw or recolor a character or scene, Use both speech bubbles and your voice, Create a conversation between characters, etc.

No (or very little) experience with ScratchJr? Complete the ScratchJr Learning Activities to explore how ScratchJr works. If you get stuck, try checking Tips & Hints under Learn.

Have some experience with ScratchJr? Create an All About Me ScratchJr program using your face on a character and your voice. You can see an example here. Finished? Try adding additional scenes that are triggered based on a click or after things are complete in the first scene. Have students create one of these instead of an All About Me poster for a beginning of the year or student of the week/month activity. If you get stuck, try checking Tips & Hints under Learn.

Done? Take a screenshot of your project(s) and add it and/or some thoughts on what you think about ScratchJr so far to the Wizard Training Padlet.

Integration Ideas:

Now, it's time to think about how you might use ScratchJr with students. If you didn't finish the explorations above and you don't feel comfortable with ScratchJr yet, continue with the Exploration activities. Ready to move on? Try the Hands-on Activities below.

Hands-on Activities:

  • Check out the ScratchJr Curricula and create exemplars for the ideas there.
  • Think of something where your students would typically draw a picture or write something or make a poster or make a movie, etc. to show that they know a topic. Create an exemplar ScratchJr project for this and plan to have your students show their knowledge this way instead. Can't come up with one? Check the ScratchJr Project Ideas to the right.
  • Check out the Zatna ScratchJr Safari Animals Lesson. Can you create a game in ScratchJr related to your favorite curricular area that shows progress?
  • Using iPads? Check out Sam Patterson's Designing a Digital Learning Experience in ScratchJr and Learn Reading Through Code. What learning experience could you create for your students OR what learning experience could your students create for someone else in their class or for a younger class? Partner with someone and airdrop your Scratch Jr project to them and have them finish it.
  • Create a template for ScratchJr planning using Google Docs or Google Draw.

ScratchJr Project Ideas:

  • Models of:
    • Life cycles
    • Food chains
    • Plant Pollination
    • Day to Night
    • Phases of the Moon
  • Animal/Habitat interactive/animation
  • Math stories
  • Retell a story
  • Write, illustrate, and animate a story
  • Create an alternate ending to a story
  • Progressive stories where each student adds a scene
  • Biographies
  • Virtual Word Walls
  • Interactive Greeting Cards

Done? Take a screenshot of your project(s) and add it and/or some thoughts on how you plan to use ScratchJr with students to the Wizard Training Padlet.

ScratchJr Resources: