## Course Objectives - Understand fundamental programming concepts through visual programming. - Learn to create interactive stories, games, and animations using Scratch. - Develop problem-solving skills and logical thinking by building projects. - Gain confidence in programming by creating increasingly complex projects. - Collaborate and share projects in the Scratch online community. ## Weekly Breakdown ### Week 1: Introduction to Scratch and Basic Programming Concepts #### Topics: - [**What is Scratch? Overview and history.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/xGOFJo17): Learn about Scratch, a free and interactive programming language developed by MIT that's designed for kids to learn coding fundamentals in a fun and engaging way. Discover its history, key features, and impact on the way we teach programming to young learners. Get started with Scratch by creating your own project and joining a vast online community of over 60 million users. - [**Setting up an account on Scratch and exploring the interface.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/GHMzdOo0): Get started with Scratch programming by setting up an account and exploring the interface. Learn to navigate the different sections, including the navigation bar, project workspace, and toolbox, and get familiar with key concepts like usernames, passwords, and projects. Start creating your own project to get hands-on experience with the Scratch environment. - [**Introduction to sprites, backdrops, and the Scratch stage.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/kcJ907oc): Discover the fundamentals of Scratch programming by exploring sprites, backdrops, and the stage. Learn how to create and manage custom sprites and backdrops, and understand how they interact to form interactive projects. By experimenting with these elements, you'll gain hands-on experience with the building blocks of Scratch programming. - [**Understanding Scratch blocks: Motion, looks, and sound categories.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/l4T3tGQj): Discover the basics of Scratch programming through its motion, looks, and sound block categories. Learn how to apply motion blocks for animations, looks blocks for customization, and sound blocks for interactive multimedia experiences. Gain hands-on experience by completing exercises and projects to unlock the full potential of Scratch for game development and animation. - [**Basic programming concepts: Sequencing and event-driven programming.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/VBpIFCRj): Dive into the world of programming with Scratch, exploring fundamental concepts like sequencing and event-driven programming. Learn how to apply these techniques to create interactive projects that respond to user inputs and events, and discover how to create complex sequences of blocks and event-driven programs that trigger actions. Mastering these concepts will help you create more complex and engaging projects with Scratch. #### Lab: - [**Create your first Scratch project: Make a sprite move and change costumes with keyboard inputs.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/3vG9NuNH) #### Lab Summary: Create a simple interactive project using Scratch, learning to add a new sprite, make it move using motion blocks, control its movement with keyboard inputs, and change its costume in response to key presses. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a solid understanding of basic programming concepts and be able to create a fun animation using Scratch. This introduction to programming with Scratch provides a foundation for further learning and experimentation. ### Week 2: Loops and Conditionals #### Topics: - [**Introduction to loops: Repeat and forever blocks.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/Pl0Fj8G1): Learn about loops in programming with Scratch, including the Repeat and Forever blocks that allow you to repeat actions and create animations. Discover how to execute a block of code multiple times, saving time and effort, and explore practical uses for loops in creating interactive stories and simulations. - [**Creating animations and repeating actions.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/5xkqrG6a): Creating animations in Scratch involves using loops to repeat actions, with two main types of animations: frame-by-frame and tweening. To create animations, you can use either repeat blocks to run a set of actions a specified number of times or forever blocks to create continuous animations. - [**Understanding conditionals: if, if-else blocks.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/E6hjMsrc): Explore conditionals in Scratch programming, specifically if and if-else blocks, to create interactive projects. Learn how to use if blocks to execute code when a certain condition is met and if-else blocks to execute different code based on whether a condition is true or false. By mastering conditionals, you can create dynamic Scratch projects with real-world applications. - [**Using conditionals to create interactive projects (e.g., sprite reactions to inputs).**](https://spinncode.com/designs/c0RMSfzs): Learning to use conditionals in Scratch can enhance your projects and make them more interactive. Discover how to create sprite reactions to inputs such as mouse clicks, keyboard cues, and collisions using if-then and if-else blocks. By mastering conditionals, you can create more engaging projects and unlock the door to advanced programming concepts. #### Lab: - [**Build a project with loops and conditionals: Animate a sprite and make it react to user inputs.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/9cMxxvzr) #### Lab Summary: Animate a Sprite with Loops and Conditionals in Scratch. Learn how to create an interactive project that makes a sprite bounce and change its appearance in response to user inputs. Master loops and conditionals to build dynamic and immersive experiences. ### Week 3: Variables and Operators #### Topics: - [**Introduction to variables in Scratch: Creating and using variables.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/9d7XYeH9): Learn the fundamentals of variables in Scratch programming, including creating and using variables to store and manipulate data. Understand how to assign and retrieve values using the "Set" and "Variable" blocks, and discover how to apply this knowledge in a practical example project. Mastering variables will allow you to create more interactive and dynamic projects in Scratch. - [**Tracking scores, timers, and other data in games and animations.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/D6YAo5D6): Learn how to track scores, timers, and other data in Scratch games and animations by using variables to store and update information. Discover how to create and initialize variables, update their values, and display them on the stage. - [**Understanding operators: Math operations, comparison, and Boolean logic.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/fczcpTwG): Discover how to use operators in Scratch to perform mathematical operations, comparisons, and logical operations, and learn how to apply these concepts to create interactive games and projects. Explore the different types of operators, including math operations, comparison operators, and Boolean logic operators, and practice using them with variables. Master the basics of operators in Scratch and take your coding skills to the next level. - [**Using operators and variables together to create interactive games.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/iRbEiEw6): Learn to create interactive games in Scratch using operators and variables together. Understand how to combine variables and operators to manage game logic, scoring systems, and game mechanics. See examples and try it yourself exercises to practice and reinforce your knowledge of game development in Scratch. #### Lab: - [**Create a basic game that tracks and displays the player's score using variables.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/JiWiIq61) #### Lab Summary: Create a basic game that uses variables and operators to track and display a player's score. Learn how to update and display score variables on the game screen using Scratch programming. ### Week 4: Events and Message Broadcasting #### Topics: - [**Understanding events: When green flag clicked, when sprite clicked.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/NATSRamu): Learn how to use events in Scratch programming, specifically the "When Green Flag clicked" and "When sprite clicked" events, to create interactive and engaging projects. Discover how to trigger scripts, control the flow of your programs, and experiment with different events and scripts to create more complex interactions. Mastering events will help you take your Scratch programming skills to the next level. - [**Creating interactions between multiple sprites using events.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/wNKPFrsp): Create interactions between multiple sprites in Scratch using events, understand how to use the "when I receive" event block, and build a project that demonstrates a simple game with sprite interactions. Learn to trigger actions between sprites with events and create complex interactions that enhance user experience. Discover how to use broadcasting messages to create even more complex sprite interactions. - [**Introduction to broadcasting messages between sprites.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/3YJHspKx): Learn how to broadcast messages between sprites in Scratch, enabling communication and coordination between multiple sprites. Discover the basics of broadcasting, including how to send and receive messages, and explore practical examples to get you started. Master the art of sprite communication to create more complex and interactive projects. - [**Using message broadcasting to coordinate actions between sprites.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/cKL0yqi4): Learn how to use message broadcasting in Scratch to coordinate actions between multiple sprites, enabling you to create complex interactions and animations. This powerful tool allows sprites to communicate with each other, making it easier to achieve specific goals in your projects. By mastering message broadcasting, you can create seamless animations, games, and interactive stories in Scratch. #### Lab: - [**Design a project where sprites interact with each other using events and broadcasting messages.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/YJetvYnp) #### Lab Summary: Learn how to design a Scratch project where sprites interact with each other using events and message broadcasting. Discover how to apply concepts learned in previous topics to create a comprehensive project that demonstrates coordination and synchronization between multiple sprites. By following step-by-step instructions and applying tips and variations, you'll be able to create a project that showcases the use of events and broadcasting messages in Scratch. ### Week 5: Costumes, Backdrops, and Sounds #### Topics: - [**Working with sprite costumes: Switching and animating costumes.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/PamaWsvN): Creating and manipulating sprite costumes, switching between them, and animating them using Scratch blocks can bring projects to life through custom animations, character changes, and interactive storytelling. This involves using blocks like **Switch costume to**, **Next costume**, and **Repeat** loops to achieve desired visual effects. By mastering sprite costumes, Scratch users can create engaging games, stories, and animations with custom character designs and emotion expressions. - [**Changing backdrops to enhance storytelling.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/RWX31sFT): Learn how to enhance storytelling in your Scratch projects by changing backdrops to create different scenes, moods, and atmospheres. Discover how to design and switch backdrops using the Scratch editor and code blocks. From simple scene changes to dynamic and interactive stories, explore the possibilities of using backdrops to engage your audience. - [**Adding sound effects and music to projects.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/R3UOFDSL): Master the art of adding sound effects and music to your Scratch projects, enhancing the user experience and creating a more immersive atmosphere. Learn how to access Scratch's built-in sound library, upload custom sounds, and add them to your projects to create engaging games, animations, and stories. - [**Synchronizing sound, sprite actions, and backdrop changes.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/sXZEDUCs): Learn how to synchronize sound effects, sprite movements, and backdrop changes in Scratch projects to create immersive experiences, with methods including using the 'When Green Flag Clicked' event, broadcasting messages, and loops and conditionals. Mastering synchronization can enhance gameplay, user interaction, and storytelling. Explore practical examples and tips to create engaging Scratch projects. #### Lab: - [**Create a story with multiple scenes using costumes, backdrops, and sounds.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/aVBQ4hE6) #### Lab Summary: Learn how to create an interactive story with multiple scenes using Scratch. This tutorial takes you through the process of planning your story, designing characters, backdrops, and sound effects, and scripting your narrative. By following these steps, you'll be able to bring your story to life using Scratch's animation and gaming capabilities. ### Week 6: User Input and Sensing #### Topics: - [**Introduction to sensing blocks: Detecting keyboard and mouse inputs.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/BoeDVtx2): Learn how to use sensing blocks in Scratch to detect keyboard and mouse inputs, creating interactive projects that respond to user input. Explore how to use blocks like `key [space v] pressed` and `mouse down?` to create engaging projects that react to keyboard and mouse input. Master the basics of sensing blocks to create your own interactive games, simulations, and stories. - [**Using the 'ask' and 'answer' blocks for user input.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/OTMH5DFN): Learn how to use Scratch's 'ask' and 'answer' blocks to create interactive projects that respond to user input. Discover how to prompt users for text-based responses and store their answers in the 'answer' variable to enhance user engagement. This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to implementing these blocks in Scratch projects. - [**Creating games that respond to user input in real-time.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/qsllio8U): Discover the power of user input and sensing blocks in Scratch programming and learn how to create engaging and dynamic games that respond to user interactions. From keyboard presses and mouse movements to sensor readings, you'll learn how to harness real-time input to bring your games to life. This introduction to user input and sensing blocks is perfect for beginner programmers looking to create interactive and immersive gaming experiences. - [**Using sensing blocks to detect sprite collisions and interactions.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/A1Jucgvl): Discover how to use sensing blocks in Scratch to detect sprite collisions and interactions. Learn how to apply sensing blocks to create interactive projects and explore practical takeaways for using these blocks in various applications, such as games, simulations, and animations. #### Lab: - [**Develop an interactive game that responds to user input via keyboard and mouse.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/FHyo9RO1) #### Lab Summary: Learn to create interactive games using Scratch, responding to keyboard and mouse inputs through sensing blocks, events, and conditionals. In this tutorial, you'll design a fully functional game that engages users, applying concepts to control game flow and demonstrate your understanding of user input and sensing. ### Week 7: Cloning and More Advanced Sprite Management #### Topics: - [**Introduction to the cloning feature in Scratch.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/Y0Xz4lDC): Learn how to harness the power of cloning in Scratch to create complex and interactive projects, discover when to use cloning and explore how to clone a sprite and manage its behaviors using clone control blocks. - [**Creating multiple instances of sprites using cloning.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/AzW0qeRU): Learn how to create multiple instances of sprites in Scratch using the powerful cloning feature, manage and differentiate between cloned sprites, and apply this concept to real-world projects such as games, animations, and interactive stories. Discover how to create clones, give them unique identification numbers, and program unique behaviors for each clone. Follow along with the example project to create a game with multiple bouncing balls and explore variations to take your projects to the next level. - [**Managing cloned sprites with different behaviors.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/rZLFQJnS): Mastering the art of managing cloned sprites with different behaviors is essential in Scratch programming, enabling creators to build complex and interactive projects, such as games and simulations, where multiple characters or enemies can behave uniquely. By using techniques like variables, conditional statements, and messages, programmers can customize each clone's behavior, adding depth to their projects. This skill can be applied to a wide range of applications, from interactive stories to multi-character games. - [**Using cloning in projects like multi-character games or interactive stories.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/de2RV01d): Using the cloning feature in Scratch can elevate your projects to the next level, allowing you to create immersive multi-character games and interactive stories with multiple characters that can interact with each other and the user. Learn how to effectively manage cloned sprites with sprite lists, foreach loops, and event blocks, and discover best practices to keep your projects organized and running smoothly. With hands-on exercises and additional resources, you'll be well on your way to creating complex and engaging Scratch projects. #### Lab: - [**Create a project that uses cloning to manage multiple instances of sprites with unique behaviors.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/b817QP3S) #### Lab Summary: Learn to create a project in Scratch that utilizes cloning to manage multiple instances of sprites with unique behaviors. Discover how to create clones, add scripts, and interactions between them, and explore tips and variations to enhance your project. ### Week 8: Game Design Principles in Scratch #### Topics: - [**Understanding basic game mechanics: Movement, scoring, and levels.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/nfGATaDt): Discover the fundamental game mechanics that make games interactive, including movement, scoring, and level systems using Scratch. Learn how to create engaging and complex movements, scoring systems, and level progression using various Scratch blocks and tools. Apply these concepts to design and develop your own interactive games. - [**Designing player objectives and feedback loops.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/GGoOTyUn): Develop a deeper understanding of game design principles in Scratch by learning how to craft engaging player objectives and implement effective feedback loops. From setting achievable goals to using sensory blocks and variables, discover the essential concepts and techniques for enhancing the gaming experience. Get hands-on practice designing and coding your own interactive games using Scratch. - [**Implementing simple AI behavior for non-player characters (NPCs).**](https://spinncode.com/designs/QgFa5bCI): Implementing simple AI behavior in game development can add realism and challenge to a game. This guide covers the basics of creating NPCs with AI behavior in Scratch, including patrolling, chasing, avoiding, and random movement. By combining sensing blocks, conditionals, and loops, you can create engaging NPCs and develop more complex AI behaviors. - [**Balancing difficulty and player engagement in Scratch games.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/YnB3aoFc): Learn how to balance difficulty and player engagement in your Scratch games by understanding the concepts of difficulty curve, player engagement, and designing for fun and challenge. Discover strategies to achieve a balance between the two, including gradual increments, power-ups, and level design. #### Lab: - [**Design and create a simple game with levels, scoring, and NPC interactions.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/OdxrrFdl) #### Lab Summary: Create a simple game with levels, scoring, and NPC interactions using Scratch by applying key game design principles. Design and implement a game concept, "Frogger's Adventure," with game mechanics, NPCs, and player engagement. Learn how to balance difficulty and create an immersive gaming experience. ### Week 9: Creating Animations and Interactive Stories #### Topics: - [**Storytelling with Scratch: Planning a beginning, middle, and end.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/JWrEVJiE): Learning how to tell interactive stories with Scratch involves planning a clear structure, creating engaging animations, and adding interactive elements. To get started, plan your story by considering your target audience, message, and tone, and then use Scratch's animation features to bring it to life with movement, dialogue, and user input. - [**Animating sprites with smooth transitions and effects.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/CN5KxKSm): Learn how to bring your Scratch animations to life with smooth transitions and effects using various techniques. Discover how to animate sprites, create frame-by-frame animation, tweening, and fade in/out effects using Motion, Looks, and Sound blocks. Mastering these skills can help you elevate your storytelling and interactive projects in Scratch. - [**Using broadcasting and events to advance the storyline.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/4wq5ppdK): Discover how to create dynamic animations and interactive stories in Scratch by using broadcasting and events to control multiple sprites and advance the storyline. Learn how to send messages between sprites and trigger specific actions or behaviors using broadcasting and events. This tutorial covers practical examples and exercises to help you master these skills and create engaging user experiences. - [**Building interactivity into stories through user choices.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/dZshTMPy): Learn how to create interactive stories in Scratch by using broadcasting, events, and user input. Discover how to build engaging narratives that allow users to influence the storyline, making them feel like they're part of the story. Follow along with a step-by-step example to see interactivity in action. #### Lab: - [**Create an interactive animated story that allows users to make choices affecting the plot.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/5MM7xPWW) #### Lab Summary: Create an interactive animated story using Scratch, where users can make choices that affect the plot. Learn to design and develop a story with multiple scenes and characters, apply conditionals and variables, and experiment with broadcasting and user input mechanisms. ### Week 10: Introduction to Lists and Data Structures in Scratch #### Topics: - [**Understanding lists (arrays) in Scratch.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/xy8fhQCR): Learn how to create and work with lists in Scratch, a powerful data structure that allows you to store and manage multiple values. Discover how lists can simplify your projects by storing related data and learn how to create, update, and access them. By mastering lists, you can take your Scratch projects to the next level. - [**Creating, updating, and accessing lists.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/wwcVHZW1): Discover how to create, update, and access lists in Scratch programming. Learn how to use the 'create list' block to create a new list, add values using the 'add to' block, and retrieve values using the 'item' block, and build a simple project to demonstrate these concepts. - [**Using lists to manage multiple pieces of data (e.g., high scores, inventories).**](https://spinncode.com/designs/RXvpUCUy): Learn how to use lists in Scratch to manage multiple pieces of data, such as high scores and inventories, and simplify your code. Discover how to store and manipulate data in lists and create more efficient and exciting projects. With examples and tips, master the art of using lists in Scratch to take your projects to the next level. - [**Storing and displaying data from lists in games and projects.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/qBarXQBX): Storing and displaying data from lists in games and projects is crucial for engaging user experiences. Learn how to use Scratch's lists and data structures to store data such as player scores and high scores, and display them on the screen. By understanding the `add to`, `insert at`, and `item` blocks, you can unlock a new level of interactivity in your projects. #### Lab: - [**Develop a project that uses lists to track and display information, such as a leaderboard or inventory.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/JMWePQdn) #### Lab Summary: Learn how to apply lists in Scratch to create projects that track and display information, such as leaderboards or inventory management systems. By following the steps outlined, you'll be able to create a project that demonstrates the practical use of lists in Scratch, organizing data and displaying it on the screen. ### Week 11: Debugging and Troubleshooting Scratch Projects #### Topics: - [**Common issues in Scratch projects and how to identify them.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/eu3pyRYk): Mastering debugging and troubleshooting skills is crucial for any programmer, and this topic covers common issues in Scratch projects and how to identify them, including syntax errors, block conflicts, variable management, sprite management, and logical errors. By understanding these common problems, you'll be able to solve them more efficiently, test your projects thoroughly, and create amazing projects. This expert guide provides practical tips and solutions to help you debug and improve your Scratch projects. - [**Using the Scratch editor's debugging tools.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/tGl6vp7e): Learn to identify and fix errors in your Scratch projects using the editor's built-in debugging tools, including the Debug Window, Blocks Highlighting, and the Sprite Info Pane. Mastering these tools can improve the performance and reliability of your projects. By the end of this topic, you'll be able to troubleshoot and resolve common issues in your Scratch projects. - [**Testing projects thoroughly to find and fix bugs.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/oorM1YAp): Learn how to test your Scratch projects effectively to ensure they work as intended and identify any errors. Discover various testing strategies, including black box, white box, and gray box testing, and best practices to streamline the testing process. By testing your projects thoroughly, you can save time and improve the overall quality of your code. - [**Best practices for keeping projects organized and bug-free.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/KSiOvuYD): Effective techniques for maintaining organized and bug-free projects in Scratch, including best practices for structuring code, debugging methods, and resources for troubleshooting, to improve programming efficiency and collaboration. #### Lab: - [**Debug a broken Scratch project and fix logical errors.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/IDVB3Ofi) #### Lab Summary: Learn how to debug and fix logical errors in a broken Scratch project by following these steps: from identifying errors to using debugging techniques like print statements and testing small sections of code, and troubleshooting common errors like infinite loops and uninitialized variables. By mastering these techniques, you can develop problem-solving skills and tackle issues in your own Scratch projects confidently. ### Week 12: Final Project: Build Your Own Game or Story #### Topics: - [**Brainstorming and planning the final project.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/3pTwgwCF): Learn how to brainstorm and plan a final project for a programming course using Scratch, including defining the project's purpose and goals, identifying the target audience, and creating a roadmap for development. Discover how to take ideas from concept to reality through effective planning and organization. Explore example project ideas to get started and access resources for further guidance. - [**Integrating programming concepts: Loops, variables, events, and sensing.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/DV3XPgvU): Integrating programming concepts in Scratch involves combining loops, variables, events, and sensing blocks to create dynamic and engaging games or stories. This topic guides learners on how to combine these concepts, enabling them to create interactive simulations, complex behaviors, and user-driven experiences. Key takeaways include combining loops and variables to create complex behaviors, using events to trigger actions, and integrating sensing blocks to detect surroundings. - [**Designing interactive user experiences.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/3ONK6lOc): Discover how to create engaging and interactive user experiences for your Scratch projects by applying user experience (UX) design principles. Learn key principles such as knowing your user, keeping it simple, and providing feedback, and explore practical takeaways to enhance your game or story design. - [**Testing, debugging, and refining the final project.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/35qjUuRX): Learn effective testing and debugging techniques to refine your final Scratch project. Discover methods for identifying errors, enhancing overall quality, and improving user experience through playtesting, scenario testing, and audience feedback. Use Scratch's built-in debugging tools and best practices to streamline your project and ensure a polished finish. #### Lab: - [**Start developing your final project: A complete game, animation, or interactive story that showcases your Scratch skills.**](https://spinncode.com/designs/eR3HgJ2r) #### Lab Summary: Apply programming concepts to create a complete game, animation, or interactive story using Scratch. In this project, you'll refine your idea, set up your project structure, and start building using scripts and blocks. ## Final Project - **Description:** Create a complete Scratch project (game, interactive story, or animation) that integrates key programming concepts learned during the course. The project should demonstrate creativity, logical thinking, and technical proficiency. - **Presentation:** Students will present their final Scratch projects, explaining their design choices, challenges encountered, and the solutions implemented. ## Grading Breakdown - **Assignments&Labs:** 40% - **MidtermProject:** 20% - **FinalProject:** 30% - **Participation&Quizzes:** 10%