Skip to main content

Scratch Workshop

Scratch is a programing language developed by MIT to allow students as young as 8 to create interactive stories, animations, games, music and art. You can download the program for free from the Scratch Site, and there are versions for Windows and Mac.
Using Scratch, students can learn:

  • Coordinate Graphing
  • Problem Solving
  • Logical/Sequential process
  • Artistic/Creative Development
  • Game Design: Roles, Rules, Success
  • Visual Design, not language intensive-Great for Special Ed or ELL students!
  • Following directions
  • Cause and Effect

The programming utilizes blocks similar to the Lego Mindstorms software used in Lego League.
Here's a simple example that I made by modifying a "Scratch Card". Scratch Cards are a great place to start learning how to use the program. They contain simple code scripts that you can duplicate in Scratch to get your "sprite" or character to change in different ways.
Once you've created your animation in Scratch, you upload the file to your free Scratch account, and then you can share them with your friends as I have below.
To use the animation below, click on the bat. Then drag your mouse away and watch the bat try to get the cursor!
Contact me if you're interested in learning more.

Learn more about this project

Comments

Scott McLeod said…
Scratch is awesome. My 8- and 10-year old children love it, particularly the fact that you can draw (and then animate) your own sprites.

I told them, "How do those video game characters know how to move when you push the button?" They said, "Um, we don't know." I said, "Let me show you how..." and that was all it took. =)

Popular posts from this blog

Nos Chemins vers la paix: Award Winning Video!

Valley View Middle School French Imersion teacher, Heather Palmer created this award winning video, Nos Chemins vers la paix , for the Tel.A.Vision " Vision For America " Contest. Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com Powered by One True Media , Tel.A.Vision.tv allows students to create videos that share their vision for the future. Heather wanted to use this video to promote the Wiki she and her students created for "6 Billion Paths to Peace." On the wiki, Palmer states: Our project was inspired by the program " Six Billion Paths to Peace ", an initiative of the Shinnyo-en foundation. We like the challenge the program offers us: commit to making a difference in this moment, in this day, in this lifetime! Palmer received her award last week at the National Service Learning Conference, in Nashville, TN. Way to go, Heather! NOTE: A few weeks ago while looking at the copyright free music available on the site, I notice a cover of the "Spinal

TIES 2012: Kathryn Smith: Innovative Spaces Support 21st Century Learning

Kathryn Smith , former Bemidji State professor, presented on Innovative Spaces Support 21st Century Learning. Her presentation slides can be found here . Today, learning can happen anywhere, anytime, and on any device.  She started by using PollEverywhere to ask about the status of mobile technologies and school learning environments. She thinks that the TPACK model is a good one to use when implementing professional development around 21st Century learning. We are using this model in our BYOD professional development. Smith notes that the National Educational Technology Plan , is a great road map for change. Research has shown that the appropriate use of technology and the appropriate design of learning spaces is having a significant positive impact on learning. The learning spaces today are not that far removed from 19th Century classrooms. She showed this video from the University of Michigan on research on design of learning environment. Here are more videos fro