The document introduces the Scratch programming platform and provides examples of how to get started using it to code interactive programs and games involving computer sprites that can move and interact. It explains basic Scratch concepts like coordinates, costumes, sounds, variables, and programming blocks. The lesson concludes with challenges to create simple games in Scratch like Pong that involve movement, collisions, scores and more advanced concepts.

1. Scratch
for that programming itch

2. Good Morning
Jarrod Bell
Principal of Technology
This lesson was first used with the #sd60
Middle School Gifted class. It ran around 3
hours with an hour of discovery time
included.

3. PBJ
Explain to the person to your left, how you
would make a peanut butter and jam
sandwich.
Mr. Bell, what does this have to do with
computer programming!?

4. PBJ
Open up TextEdit/Word etc
Write a series of instructions for your robot to
create a peanut butter and jam sandwich.
You have the following variables
● A Loaf of Sliced Bread in a Bag
● 1L Jar of Peanut Butter
● 500mL Jar of Strawberry Jam
● A Knife
● A Plate

5. PBJ
What assumptions have you made about
your robot?
● Can it identify the items
● Does it know how to pick up the knife,
open the jars, bag etc
● Did you have it open the bag, jars, explain
where to put the knife in etc.
● Discuss your instructions and where your
robot wouldn't know what to do
● Computer programs are only as good as
our instructions

6. Scratch
● Free Software Developed by MIT
● Follows in the footsteps of Squeak,
SmallTalk-80
● LOGO programming language by
Seymour Papert - developed on the work
of Jean Piaget
● http://scratch.mit.edu
● Unlike our robot, Scratch has been taught
how to do many things already (libraries,
pre built instructions)

7. Coordinate Plane & Angles
x-y
0,0 is the centre
Angles are in Degrees
0 Degrees is up
-180 Degrees is down
-90 Degrees is left
90 Degrees is right

8. Look around
Show and tell on the major parts of the
Scratch program, stage, scripts, costumes,
editor, programming blocks etc.

9. Change Costumes and Motion
● Example with the cat walking and
changing costumes
● Wall and how to bounce

10. Sound
Make some noise!
Music and Sound examples in section 5, and
2 at http://elem.prn.bc.ca/course/view.php?
id=9

11. Variable
Run up the score!
● add in another sprite
● increment a variable if the cat touches the
new sprite
● Say something when the score reaches a
value

12. Discover
● One Character Moving
● Two Characters Moving and increment
score if they touch
● Keyboard Control for One Character,
Avoid the other moving character
(Asteroids example from Scratch website
http://scratch.mit.
edu/projects/SonicPopsDad/245563)
● Music
● Maze Game

13. Challenge - One Player Pong
Three Sprites (paddle, ball, goal)
Play against Wall
Angle of Incidence and Reflection
Speed
Counter
How could you create One player vs
Computer so that the computer could miss?
Photo Attribution: http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-66495468

14. Resources
http://scratch.mit.edu
http://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Main_Page