**Course Title:** Introduction to Programming with Scratch **Section Title:** User Input and Sensing **Topic:** Develop an interactive game that responds to user input via keyboard and mouse. (Lab topic) **Lab Overview:** In this lab, you'll create an interactive game that responds to user input via keyboard and mouse using Scratch. You'll apply the concepts you've learned in the previous topics, such as sensing blocks, events, and conditionals, to create a gaming experience that engages users. By the end of this lab, you'll have a fully functional game that responds to user input and demonstrates your understanding of user input and sensing in Scratch. **Objective:** * Create a new Scratch project that responds to user input via keyboard and mouse. * Apply sensing blocks to detect keyboard and mouse inputs. * Use conditionals to control the game flow based on user input. * Create a game that incorporates user interaction, such as a character that moves or jumps in response to user input. **Step 1: Create a New Project** * Log in to your Scratch account and create a new project. You can give it a name, such as "Interactive Game." * Set up your game's background and add a sprite that will be controlled by the user. For this example, let's use a simple cat sprite. **Step 2: Add Sensing Blocks** * In the Sensing category, you'll find the blocks that detect user input. For this lab, we'll use the "key pressed" and "mouse moved" blocks. * Drag and drop the "key pressed" block into your workspace. This block will detect when a specific key is pressed on the keyboard. * Configure the block to detect the "right arrow" key. This will be the input that controls our sprite's movement. **Step 3: Create Movement** * In the Motion category, find the "move 10 steps" block. This block will make our sprite move 10 steps in the direction it's facing. * Connect the "key pressed" block to the "move 10 steps" block. This will ensure that when the right arrow key is pressed, our sprite moves. * Repeat this process for the left arrow key, but this time, use the "move -10 steps" block to make the sprite move in the opposite direction. **Step 4: Add Jumping** * To make our sprite jump, we can use the "mouse clicked" block from the Sensing category. * Connect the "mouse clicked" block to a "jump 10 steps" block from the Motion category. This will make our sprite jump when the user clicks the mouse. * You can adjust the jump height by changing the number in the "jump 10 steps" block. **Step 5: Add Conditionals** * To control our game flow, we'll use conditionals. Let's create a scenario where our sprite can only jump if it's on the ground. * Use the "touching color" block from the Sensing category to detect when our sprite is touching a specific color (in this case, the color of the ground). * Connect the "touching color" block to a conditional block, such as an "if" or "if-else" block. * Configure the conditional block to only allow the sprite to jump if it's touching the ground. **Step 6: Test Your Game** * Run your game by clicking the green flag. Test your game by pressing the right and left arrow keys to move your sprite. * Click the mouse to make your sprite jump. * Observe how your game responds to user input and make adjustments as needed. **Conclusion:** In this lab, you've created an interactive game that responds to user input via keyboard and mouse. You've applied sensing blocks, conditionals, and motion to control your sprite's movement and actions. This demonstrates your understanding of user input and sensing in Scratch. **What to Do Next:** * Experiment with different user inputs, such as using the space bar or other keys to control your sprite's actions. * Try adding more sprites or objects that interact with the user's input. * Share your game with others and ask for feedback on how to improve it. **Seek Help:** If you have any questions or need help with this lab, please leave a comment below or reach out to the instructor. **Additional Resources:** * Scratch Official Tutorials: <https://scratch.mit.edu/developers/> * Scratch Wiki: <https://cratchwiki.info/wiki/Main_Page> **Next Topic:** In the next topic, we'll explore the cloning feature in Scratch. You'll learn how to create multiple copies of a sprite and control them using loops and conditionals. **Keep Exploring:** We hope you enjoyed this lab and will continue to explore the world of Scratch programming. Happy coding!