Introduction to Scratch

Procedure

1. Congratulate students for completing the coding puzzles from Code.org and explain that now they have graduated to an intermediate level of block coding.

2. Introduce Scratch:

   1. [say] Unlike Code.org, Scratch is a website and coding application that allows coders, like you, to create your own programs, games, and activities. Throughout this course you will practice coding skills that will allow you to code your own story. Thumbs up if you have every written your own story before? Let's watch this video to learn more about Scratch.

3. Watch Video 1 or 2 depending on time [videos below]

4. Ask students to share highlights from the video. Was there anything surprising or interesting?

5. [say] In each lesson I will give you a new coding challenge/skill to master. Today's challenge is about exploring. You will have time to explore and test the coding blocks in Scratch and code something surprising.

6. Watch Video 3. This video will teach students how to navigate the Scratch website and encourage experiential learning [learn more below].

7. Give students 5-10 minutes of independent work time to explore and code something "surprising" in Scratch. Share the link to the Starter program or the Scratch website in the chat [see below]

8. Allow student(s) to share their screen and code with the class. Or ask students to share what coding blocks they discovered in the the chat.

9. Discuss the activity and facilitate a brief discussion about what students learned and experienced.

• Question 1: What was your favorite part of this activity?

• Question 2: What unexpected thing did you program?

• Question 3: What blocks did you use in your project, and what did they do?

• Question 4: Why do you think it is good to practice exploring?