Scratch: Add & Customize Sprites

Procedure

1. Introduce the activity:

   1. [say] Every new Scratch project starts with one sprite (usually the cat) already loaded. You can add other Sprites or delete the cat. In this activity, you’ll explore the Sprites Gallery, choose the Sprites for your story, and learn how to customize your Sprites.

2. Discuss the ELA concept [Character Development] and facilitate a brief brainstorm about the .

   • Question 1: Consider the moral of your story ?

   • Question 2:What characters will help bring the moral of your story to life?

   • Question 3: What is the relationship between your characters? Do they know each other or are they strangers? How do they meet in your story?

3. Watch Video 1 & Video 2 [see below]

4. Have students sign in to their Scratch account, open the "Starter Program" [share link in chat] and complete the below tasks.

   • Task 1: Explore the Sprite gallery.

   • Task 2: Add the two characters/Sprites of your story to the program.

   • Task 3 [optional]: Customize or add multiple "costumes" for each Sprite.

5. Students share their progress by:

   • sharing their screen

   • sharing the link to their project in the chat [students must click "Remix" to save project to their account]

   • saying which Sprites they chose and why [type in chat or say aloud around the grid]

6. [OPTIONAL] For homework, ask students to consider or write a short story between the two characters. Explain that they will need this in a future lesson.

   • Consider using a pre-writing activity, like brainstorming ideas for characters and conversations, to connect this to your classroom learning objectives.

     1. Read a story for the class. Prompt students to create a dialogue between two characters from that story.

     2. Have students choose two characters from their own favorite book.