Coding is a valuable skill for children to learn, and Scratch is a fantastic platform to introduce them to the world of programming.
With its colorful blocks and intuitive interface, Scratch makes coding fun and engaging for kids aged 7 and above.
Let’s explore top five, fun lesson plans that focus on the “Motion” blocks in Scratch, helping kids create exciting animations and games while building a solid foundation in coding.
More tutorials here: SCRATCH CODING TUTORIALS AND EXAMPLES
Lesson 1: Introduction to Scratch and Basic Movement
Objective: Introduce students to the Scratch environment and teach them to create a simple animation using the “Motion” blocks.
Activities:
- Explore the Scratch interface, emphasizing the stage and sprite areas.
- Teach students to add and customize sprites.
- Introduce the “Motion” blocks, including “Go to x: y:”, “Move,” and “Turn.”
- Guide students in creating a basic animation where a sprite moves across the stage.
Key Concepts: Sprites, coordinates, movement, turning, and basic animation.
Lesson 2: Creating a Maze Game
Objective: Teach students how to design and code a simple maze game using “Motion” blocks.
Activities:
- Discuss the concept of a maze game, explaining the goal and obstacles.
- Guide students in creating a maze using the backdrop and drawing tools.
- Introduce the “If on edge, bounce” block for better sprite navigation.
- Instruct students to code a sprite to move through the maze while avoiding walls.
Key Concepts: Backdrops, conditions, collision detection, and game design.
Lesson 3: Animating Characters
Objective: Teach students how to animate characters and objects using “Motion” blocks.
Activities:
- Explain the importance of animation in storytelling and games.
- Show students how to import multiple costumes for a sprite.
- Teach the “Switch Costume” and “Next Costume” blocks for animation.
- Have students create a short story or game where characters change costumes to express emotions or actions.
Key Concepts: Costumes, animation, storytelling, and character design.
Lesson 4: Creating a Racing Game
Objective: Guide students in developing a simple racing game using “Motion” blocks.
Activities:
- Discuss the concept of a racing game, highlighting the objective and rules.
- Introduce the “Glide” and “Set Rotation Style” blocks for smoother movement.
- Instruct students to create a racecourse using backdrops.
- Help students code a racing game where players control a sprite to navigate through the track.
Key Concepts: Smooth movement, user controls, game objectives, and scoring.
Lesson 5: Interactive Storytelling
Objective: Encourage students to create an interactive storytelling project using “Motion” blocks.
Activities:
- Discuss the concept of interactive storytelling and its appeal.
- Teach students to use “When Green Flag Clicked” and “Broadcast” blocks for interaction.
- Guide students in creating a story or game with multiple scenes and choices.
- Allow students to share and play each other’s interactive projects.
Key Concepts: Events, broadcasts, choices, and storytelling.
5Scratch Lesson Plans_Motion Blocks (Grab the PDF here)
Incorporating these five lesson plans into your teaching approach can make learning Scratch coding a fun and engaging experience for kids aged 7+
The “Motion” blocks provide a strong foundation for understanding how coding can bring animations, games, and interactive stories to life. More tutorials here: SCRATCH CODING TUTORIALS AND EXAMPLES
As students progress through these lessons, they’ll gain valuable skills in problem-solving, logic, and creativity, setting them on a path to becoming proficient young programmers. So, fire up Scratch, and let the coding adventures begin!
Grab this book for more fun lessons and activities . Scratch Programming for Kids and Beginners: Simple guide for kids to creating animations, games and coding, using the Scratch computer language
