Scratch coding full#
More script blocks are introduced and a full page quiz will test to make sure the reader is comprehending and retaining.
Scratch coding how to#
While the game is very simplistic, it’s the tools that are important here - the young programmer will learn to create custom graphics as well as how to provide instructions for a game. Rapid Reaction (pages 24-29) provides a tutorial for creating a two-player game. Again, a full-page color quiz ends the section. Ghost Hunt (pages 18-23) provides more fundamentals of Scratch programming such as using a coordinates system, using a keyboard for movement (versus the mouse), and music. The section wraps up with a full page color quiz. As the game tutorial progresses, scoring and timer are added as well as the goalie (a fish). The script never gets too complicated, and explanations for each block are provided so the young reader won’t get lost. What I appreciate most about this first game tutorial is how it’s broken up into sections - add the cat, program its movement, test it… and then move on to next section (Add the soccer ball). The programmer will add Scratch Cat (a standard sprite) as the player-controlled character on the screen. For attentive readers, the full-color graphics and mini-game (moving dinosaurs around on the stage) are probably enough to grab their attention and get them moving on to the next section.įishball (pages 8-17) gives a step-by-step, numbered tutorial to build a simple game that involves kicking a soccer ball into a net. At the end of the section is a short six-question quiz.Įxploring Scratch (pages 6-7) gives a nice detailed look at the user interface and uses callouts to point out the various areas of importance on the screen. It doesn’t go deep, but that’s not necessary as most young programmer will quickly pick up the various areas on the screen and the simple tools and interface. Meet Scratch (pages 4-5) introduces the young reader to Scratch 2.0 and covers the basics of the Stage, sprites, scripts, and libraries.
Written by Jon Woodcock and Steve Setford, the book is broken into seven sections that are of perfect length for young programmers ages 9+: The book is titled Coding in Scratch: Games Workbook (DK Publishing, out January 5, 2016) and this 40-page full-color workbook is perfect.
Scratch coding free#
The solution I found came from DK Publishing, who kindly provided me an advanced look at a new workbook they have prepared that uses the free Scratch 2.0 programming environment created by MIT. I’ve been looking for something to recommend to parents as a simple way to gauge the interest of a child in programming without being overly complicated or lengthy. That said, in order to even consider the request, I’ve been examining various apps and books to see just how I might go about introducing programming concepts to a younger audience. I’ve also had a few requests from parents of younger children for a similar type of camp, but it won’t be happening in 2016. Bryson Payne, who also came and gave a short talk on programming to both groups.įor Summer 2016, I’ll once again be offering the camp to the same age group, but I’m also pondering an ‘Intermediate Game Programming’ camp for those students who took last year’s camp.
Scratch coding code#
The kids got hands-on with a number of game development platforms as well as an introduction to Python and a signed copy of Teach Your Kids to Code ( review here) to take home from the author, Dr. The camp was for kids entering 3rd through 7th grade - this was sort of a shot-in-the-dark decision based on my oldest son (age 8 and entering 3rd in Fall 2015) and what I’d seen him capable of with certain programming tools and apps. I taught a week-long camp last summer titled ‘Beginning Game Programming” - I had a morning session (8am-12pm) and an afternoon session (1pm-5pm), and each class had 16 kids anxious to learn some new skills and, of course, play some games.
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