**Course Title:** Introduction to Programming with Scratch **Section Title:** Loops and Conditionals **Topic:** Understanding conditionals: if, if-else blocks **Overview** In the previous topics, we explored loops and how they can be used to repeat actions in our Scratch projects. However, we often need to make decisions based on specific conditions within our programs. This is where conditionals come in. In this topic, we will delve into the world of conditionals, specifically focusing on if and if-else blocks. **What are Conditionals?** Conditionals are statements that allow our program to make decisions based on specific conditions or criteria. They enable our program to execute certain blocks of code if a particular condition is met. Conditionals are a fundamental concept in programming and are used in various programming languages, including Scratch. **If Blocks** The if block is a type of conditional statement in Scratch that allows our program to execute a block of code if a specific condition is met. The if block consists of a condition and a block of code that will be executed if the condition is true. Here is an example of an if block: If [condition] Then [code to be executed] End Let's consider a simple example: Suppose we have a sprite that needs to change its color when it touches a specific backdrop. We can use an if block to achieve this. 1. Create a new sprite and add a costume. 2. Create a new backdrop and add a color. 3. Click on the sprite and add an if block from the "Control" category. 4. Inside the if block, add a condition [Touching [backdrop]]. 5. Add a [change color effect] block from the "Effects" category. 6. Run the program and watch as the sprite changes color when it touches the backdrop. **If-Else Blocks** The if-else block is a type of conditional statement in Scratch that allows our program to execute one block of code if a specific condition is met and another block of code if the condition is not met. The if-else block consists of a condition, a block of code to be executed if the condition is true, and another block of code to be executed if the condition is false. Here is an example of an if-else block: If [condition] Then [code to be executed if true] Else [code to be executed if false] End Let's consider another example: Suppose we have a sprite that needs to say "Hello" if it is facing upwards and "Goodbye" if it is facing downwards. We can use an if-else block to achieve this. 1. Create a new sprite and add a direction sensor. 2. Click on the sprite and add an if-else block from the "Control" category. 3. Inside the if block, add a condition [direction < 0]. 4. Add a [say] block from the "Looks" category with the text "Hello". 5. Inside the else block, add a [say] block with the text "Goodbye". 6. Run the program and watch as the sprite says "Hello" when it is facing upwards and "Goodbye" when it is facing downwards. **Practical Takeaways** * Conditionals allow our program to make decisions based on specific conditions or criteria. * If blocks execute a block of code if a specific condition is met. * If-else blocks execute one block of code if a specific condition is met and another block of code if the condition is not met. * Conditionals can be used to create interactive and dynamic projects. **Key Concepts** * Conditionals * If blocks * If-else blocks * Conditions * Code execution **Additional Resources** For more information on conditionals and how to use them in Scratch, refer to the official Scratch documentation: [https://scratch.mit.edu/docs/](https://scratch.mit.edu/docs/). **What's Next?** In the next topic, we will explore how to use conditionals to create interactive projects, such as sprite reactions to inputs. **We'd love to hear from you!** Please leave a comment below with any questions or feedback you may have.