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Scratch Workshop

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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. =)
May 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM
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