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Scratch Introduction Guide

A Teacher's Guide to Getting Started with Scratch

What is Scratch?

Scratch is a free, visual programming language developed by MIT. It allows users to create interactive stories, games, animations, and more by dragging and dropping code blocks instead of typing text.

Key Features: - Visual, block-based programming (no typing required) - Free and available online or offline - Designed for ages 8-16, but used by all ages - Large community with millions of shared projects - Available in many languages, including isiZulu, Afrikaans, and English

Why Use Scratch in Education?

Benefits for Students

  1. Engagement: Students are motivated by creating their own projects
  2. Computational Thinking: Develops problem-solving and logical thinking
  3. Creativity: Encourages creative expression through coding
  4. Collaboration: Sharing and remixing projects builds community
  5. Low Barrier to Entry: No prior coding experience needed
  6. Immediate Feedback: See results instantly

Benefits for Teachers

  1. Easy to Learn: Intuitive interface, quick to master
  2. Free Resources: Extensive tutorials and community support
  3. Curriculum Integration: Can be used across subjects
  4. Assessment Tools: Built-in sharing and portfolio features
  5. Student Engagement: Increases motivation and participation

Getting Started

Creating an Account

  1. Go to: https://scratch.mit.edu
  2. Click: "Join Scratch" (top right)
  3. Fill in:
  4. Username (must be unique)
  5. Password (at least 8 characters)
  6. Email address
  7. Date of birth
  8. Country
  9. Verify email (check your inbox)
  10. Start creating!

Offline Editor (Alternative)

If internet is unreliable: 1. Download Scratch Desktop from: https://scratch.mit.edu/download 2. Install on computers 3. Projects can be saved locally 4. Can be shared online later

Scratch Interface Overview

Main Components

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [Menu Bar]  Scratch - Project Name            │
├──────────┬──────────────────────┬───────────────┤
│          │                      │               │
│  Stage   │   Scripts Area      │  Blocks       │
│  Area    │   (Code Building)   │  Palette      │
│          │                      │               │
│          │                      │               │
│          ├──────────────────────┤               │
│          │   Sprite List        │               │
│          │   (Characters)       │               │
│          └──────────────────────┘               │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. Stage Area

  • Location: Top left
  • Purpose: Where your project runs
  • Features:
  • Green flag: Start project
  • Red stop sign: Stop project
  • Full screen mode
  • Stage size: 480x360 pixels

2. Sprite List

  • Location: Bottom left
  • Purpose: Shows all sprites (characters/objects) in your project
  • Actions:
  • Click sprite to select it
  • Right-click for options (duplicate, delete, etc.)
  • Click "+" to add new sprite

3. Blocks Palette

  • Location: Left side, middle
  • Purpose: Contains all coding blocks
  • Categories:
  • Motion (blue): Move, turn, position
  • Looks (purple): Appearance, say, think
  • Sound (pink): Play sounds, notes
  • Events (yellow): Start scripts
  • Control (orange): Loops, conditions
  • Sensing (light blue): Detect input
  • Operators (green): Math, logic
  • Variables (orange): Store data
  • My Blocks (dark blue): Custom blocks

4. Scripts Area

  • Location: Center
  • Purpose: Where you build your code
  • How it works:
  • Drag blocks from palette
  • Snap blocks together
  • Click blocks to test
  • Right-click to delete/duplicate

5. Tabs

  • Scripts: Write code (default)
  • Costumes: Edit sprite appearance
  • Sounds: Add/edit sounds

Essential Blocks for Beginners

Motion Blocks (Blue)

move 10 steps          → Move sprite forward
turn 15 degrees        → Rotate sprite
go to x: 0 y: 0        → Move to specific position
point in direction 90  → Face a direction

Looks Blocks (Purple)

say Hello! for 2 secs   → Display text bubble
think Hmm... for 2 secs → Display thought bubble
change size by 10       → Make bigger/smaller
switch costume to [ ]   → Change appearance

Events Blocks (Yellow)

when green flag clicked → Start when flag clicked
when [space] key pressed → Start when key pressed
when this sprite clicked → Start when clicked

Control Blocks (Orange)

wait 1 secs            → Pause execution
repeat 10              → Loop a set number of times
forever                → Loop forever
if <> then             → Conditional statement

Sound Blocks (Pink)

play sound [meow]      → Play a sound
play note 60 for 0.5 beats → Play musical note

Your First Project: Moving Cat

Step 1: Start a New Project

  1. Click "File" → "New"
  2. You'll see the default cat sprite

Step 2: Make the Cat Move

  1. Click on the Motion category (blue)
  2. Drag move 10 steps block to scripts area
  3. Click the block - cat moves!
  4. Try changing the number (e.g., move 50 steps)

Step 3: Add an Event

  1. Click Events category (yellow)
  2. Drag when green flag clicked to top of move 10 steps
  3. Blocks snap together
  4. Click green flag - cat moves!

Step 4: Make it Continuous

  1. Click Control category (orange)
  2. Drag forever block around move 10 steps
  3. Click green flag - cat moves continuously!

Step 5: Add Bouncing

  1. From Motion, drag if on edge, bounce inside forever
  2. Cat now bounces off edges!

Step 6: Add Sound

  1. Click Sound category (pink)
  2. Drag play sound [meow] inside forever
  3. Cat makes sound while moving!

Your code should look like: 

when green flag clicked
forever
    move 10 steps
    if on edge, bounce
    play sound [meow]
end

Common Patterns and Concepts

Pattern 1: Starting Scripts

Always start with an event block: - when green flag clicked - Most common - when [key] key pressed - For keyboard control - when this sprite clicked - For clickable sprites

Pattern 2: Loops

Three types of loops: 1. repeat 10 - Do something 10 times 2. forever - Do something continuously 3. repeat until <> - Do until condition is met

Pattern 3: Conditions

Making decisions: 

if <> then
    [do something]
end

Or with alternatives: 

if <> then
    [do this]
else
    [do that]
end

Pattern 4: Variables

Storing information: 1. Create variable: Click "Variables" → "Make a Variable" 2. Name it (e.g., "Score") 3. Use it: set [Score] to 0 or change [Score] by 1

Teaching Tips

For Beginners

  1. Start Simple: Begin with basic movement
  2. One Concept at a Time: Don't overwhelm
  3. Hands-On: Let them explore and experiment
  4. Celebrate Small Wins: Every working script is success
  5. Use Analogies: Compare to real-world actions

For Mixed Levels

  1. Differentiated Tasks:
  2. Beginners: Follow step-by-step
  3. Intermediate: Modify examples
  4. Advanced: Create from scratch
  5. Peer Support: Pair advanced with beginners
  6. Extension Challenges: Provide extra tasks for fast finishers

Classroom Management

  1. Pair Programming: Two students, one computer
  2. Showcase Time: Regular sharing of projects
  3. Troubleshooting: Teach students to help each other
  4. Save Often: Remind students to save work
  5. Account Management: Use class accounts or student accounts

Common Mistakes and Solutions

Mistake 1: Blocks Don't Snap

Problem: Blocks won't connect Solution: Make sure you're dragging to the right place (top or bottom of block)

Mistake 2: Nothing Happens

Problem: Clicked green flag, nothing happens Solution: - Check if script is attached to sprite - Make sure event block is at top - Check if blocks are connected

Mistake 3: Sprite Disappears

Problem: Sprite goes off screen Solution: Use go to x: 0 y: 0 to bring it back

Mistake 4: Too Fast/Slow

Problem: Animation too fast or slow Solution: - Add wait blocks - Change number of steps - Adjust speed in motion blocks

Mistake 5: Can't Find Block

Problem: Looking for specific block Solution: - Check correct category - Use search function (top of blocks palette) - Some blocks only appear with certain sprites

Assessment Ideas

Formative Assessment

  • Observation: Watch students work
  • Quick Checks: "Show me your code"
  • Peer Review: Students share and give feedback
  • Exit Tickets: "What did you learn today?"

Summative Assessment

  • Project Rubric: Evaluate completed projects
  • Portfolio: Collection of student work
  • Reflection: Students write about their learning
  • Presentation: Students present their projects

What to Look For

  • Understanding: Can they explain their code?
  • Problem-Solving: How do they debug errors?
  • Creativity: Do they add original elements?
  • Collaboration: Do they help others?

Resources for Teachers

Official Resources

  • Scratch Website: https://scratch.mit.edu
  • ScratchEd: https://scratched.gse.harvard.edu (teacher community)
  • Getting Started Guide: https://scratch.mit.edu/ideas
  • Video Tutorials: https://scratch.mit.edu/help/videos

Curriculum Integration

  • Scratch for Educators: https://scratch.mit.edu/educators
  • Lesson Plans: Search ScratchEd for subject-specific plans
  • Coding Cards: Printable cards with project ideas

Community

  • ScratchEd Community: Connect with other teachers
  • Scratch Forums: Get help and share ideas
  • Twitter: #ScratchEd, #Scratch

Next Steps

  1. Practice: Create your own projects
  2. Explore: Look at community projects
  3. Plan: Design a lesson using Scratch
  4. Share: Connect with other teachers
  5. Implement: Try Scratch with your students!

Quick Reference Card

Essential Blocks

  • when green flag clicked - Start
  • move 10 steps - Move
  • turn 15 degrees - Rotate
  • say Hello! - Display text
  • repeat 10 - Loop
  • if <> then - Condition
  • set [variable] to 0 - Variable

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Space: Start/stop project
  • Right-click: Options menu
  • Delete key: Delete selected blocks
  • Ctrl+Z: Undo
  • Ctrl+S: Save (if offline)

Tips

  • Start with events
  • Use forever for continuous actions
  • Test frequently
  • Save often
  • Ask for help!

Support

Need Help? - Scratch Help: https://scratch.mit.edu/help - ScratchEd Forums: https://scratched.gse.harvard.edu/discussions - Contact workshop facilitators

Remember: Everyone starts as a beginner. Be patient with yourself and your students. Coding is about experimentation and learning from mistakes!