This document provides an introduction to programming and the Scratch programming language for 6th grade students. It explains that programming languages allow users to tell computers what to do through coded instructions. It then outlines some basic Scratch programming elements like sprites, costumes, statements, Boolean expressions, conditions, loops, variables, threads and events. The goal of the lesson is for students to understand why programming languages are used, identify Scratch elements, and use Scratch to create a holiday greeting card.

1. http://cs.harvard.edu/malan/scratch/
index.phpFA2014
Mrs. Hauer
Palmyra Area High School 1

2. 6th Grade Programmer and Game
Developer
What do you think about kids
programming? 2

3. At the end of this lesson, students will be
able to:
• Understand Why We Use Programming Languages
• Identify Basic Scratch Programming Elements
• Use Scratch to create a Holiday Greeting Card
Note-taking Sheet
3

4. • The ability to talk to a computer in a language it can
understand
• The computer will read your programming code and
execute your instructions
• The code must be correct and unambiguous
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5. 5

6. 6

7. Why do we have programming languages?
A way of thinking
A way of effectively expressing instructions
What is a language for?
Tell the hardware what you want it to do
Not necessary to make physical hardware changes
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8. • Statements
• Boolean
Expression
• Conditions
• Loops
• Variables
• Threads
• Events
• Sprite
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9. 2D image or animation
Costume 1 Costume 2 Costume 3 Costume 4
Animated Sprite
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10. • Tell the computer what to do
• It is an instruction to follow
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
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11. • An expression that is either TRUE or FALSE
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
With Boolean expressions we can create
conditions!
PYTHON
Boolean = bool(input( “Enter a Boolean Value: “)) 11

12. • Must be TRUE to occur
• If, When & Until are condition labels
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
If Construct
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13. If- Else Construct
PYTHON
Value = input (“Press a Key”)
If value == SPACE:
Print “Hello!”
Else:
Print “Goodbye!” 13

14. • A loop executes multiple statements
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
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15. • A changeable value recorded in memory
• Used whenever a value must be stored
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
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16. • A mini-program within a program
• You can have multiple threads in your program
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
It is helpful to use separate threads for conceptually
distinct tasks 16

17. • Threads and sprites can communicate through
the use of EVENTS
SCRATCH EXAMPLE:
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18. Essential Questions
Why do we use Programming
Languages?
What are some of the basic Scratch
programming elements?
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