FAQs

What is Scratch?

Scratch is a programming language and an online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world. As children create with Scratch, they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically. Scratch is designed, developed, and moderated by the Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit organization. (Text from Scratch for Parents)

Is ScratchPals an “official” Scratch program?

No. ScratchPals is an initiative launched at the Scratch Conference at MIT in 2018 by Kathleen Fugle, an elementary educator and STEAM specialist. The inspiration for ScratchPals was the 2018 "Getting Unstuck" challenge for educators, a project of the Creative Computing Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

What grade-level or age range is ScratchPals meant for?

ScratchPals is open to educators of students who are 7-14 years of age (2nd-8th grades in the US).

Is there any cost to participate in ScratchPals? What is the time commitment?

ScratchPals is a free teacher-led program. ScratchPals collaborations are organized in six-week rounds that are held twice a year (Feb. 1 - Mar. 15 and Oct. 1 - Nov. 15).

What is needed for participation?

Here is the checklist of what you will need to successfully participate in ScratchPals:

  • a Scratch Teacher Account (request one from the Scratch Team)

  • Scratch student accounts for your students

  • basic skills in Scratch

  • role of educator for a school or educational organization

  • up to 30 students ages 7 - 14 (2nd - 8th grade in the US system)

  • time for students to work on Scratch projects

  • computers or tablets with internet access

How do I sign up?

Interested teachers should sign up for the ScratchPals mailing list and follow @ScratchPals on Twitter. Announcements about ScratchPals signups are sent through these two channels.

Who manages ScratchPals?

ScratchPals is managed by Kathleen Fugle, an elementary educator and STEAM specialist who is passionate about hands-on, self-directed learning that meaningfully integrates the arts, technology, and a global perspective. She has been teaching with Scratch since 2010. You can follow her on Twitter @kathleenfugle, and find the latest ScratchPals news on Twitter @scratchpals.

ScratchPals logo and site graphics incorporate images from the Scratch Foundation, the Creative Computing Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, UNICEF, World's Largest Lesson, micro:bit Foundation, and JoyLabz Makey Makey. Icons are adapted from Freepik at www.flaticon.com.