Scratch: Set The Scene

Procedure

1. Introduce the activity:

   1. [say] In this activity, you’ll choose a backdrop for your story- your backdrop(s) should relate to the setting of your story.

2. Discuss the ELA concept [Setting] and facilitate a brief discussion about what determines a setting. [students can share in the chat or aloud]

   • Question 1: What is the location of your story [inside, outside, in space, in the water, etc]?

   • Question 2: When does your story take place [time of day, year, etc]?

   • Question 3: What other factors can help you choose a relevant Background?

3. Watch Video 1 [see below]

4. Students open the "Starter Program"

   • Task 1: Explore the Scratch Backdrop gallery and add a new Backdrop

   • Task 2: Code your program to switch between two Backdrops

   • Task 3 [optional]: Customize a Backdrop

5. Students share their projects/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 background they chose and why [type in chat or say aloud around the grid]

6. For homework, ask students to write a short dialog between the two characters, within the setting they chose today. Explain that they will need this for the next lesson, in which they will code their character to talk each other by displaying the dialog as text.

   • 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.