ScratchJr

Coding for Kindergarten to Second Grade

Link to presentation

ScratchJr.org

Additional Resources:

Curricula

ScratchJr Interface Guide

Block Descriptions

Paint Editor Guide

Tufts University Study

Introductions

Robin Ricketts

JK - 12 Academic Technology

Coordinator

The Steward School

Richmond, VA

Liz Clayton

Engineering and Technology

Teacher

Collegiate School

Richmond, VA

Karen Hurd

Technology Resource Teacher

Collegiate School

Richmond, VA

Scratch and ScratchJr

Scratch 2.0 ● Graphical programming

“language”

● Ages 8 and up

● Free

● Browser based*

● Compatible with Picoboards,

MakeyMakeys and Wedos.

*Also a downloadable version for PCs and

Macs.

ScratchJr ● Graphical programming

“language”

● Ages 5-7+

● Free iPad App*

*Now available for Android

Why teach ScratchJr?

● Create and express ideas

● Solve problems

● Design projects

● Develop sequencing skills

● Apply math and language

Computational Thinking Skills

● Sequencing

● Parallelism

● Loops

● Conditionals

The Grid

What can students do with ScratchJr?

Games

Stories

Simulations

Other

2 Ways to Skin a Cat:

4 Lessons:

1. Create original lessons

tailored to students

2. Introduce concepts

through simple project

creation

10 Lessons:

1. Follow the published

ScratchJr Curriculum

2. Adapt to your group and

to available time

3. Extend lessons when

possible

Follow the published ScratchJr curriculum

Adapt to your group and to available time

Extend and integrate lessons when possible

Create Your Own Lessons

● Use a variety of resources for lesson ideas including

unplugged lessons.

● Cover all 6 block types.

● Lessons increasingly complex.

● Incorporated science or math lesson into final project.

“Unplugged” Floor Activities

Supplement with other apps

ScratchJr Interface

ScratchJr Blocks

Motion

Looks

Sound Trigger

End

Control

Hands On Practice

Five Minute Game

Sums of Twenty Program

Scratch Detective Activity

Debug a Script

5 Minute

Game

More Advanced Maze

● Make the maze lines a character.

● Create a conditional - “If the Cat bumps into the Maze

walls, then send him back to his starting location.”

● Add a “You Won” page.

● Create another conditional -

“If the Cat bumps into the Cake,

then change to the “You Won” page.

Build a Sums of 20 Dance Party Goal:

Make three characters dance across

the stage.

● How many steps does it take to

move across the stage?

● Do all characters have the same

size steps?

● How can you make them dance

as they move?

Penguin Math

Detective

While in full screen mode, run a program so the code is not

visible.

“Can you guess what the code is for this program?”

Debugging Challenges

Run a script while the

code is showing and

identify a problem with

the script.

“Can you figure out how

to fix this bug?”

Play Time

Collect iPads

Teaching Tips

If possible, work in small groups or have 2 teachers

and projector* for whole class lessons

Remind students that iPads in class are

“tools,” not “toys”

Include “unplugged” activities

* have spare dongle

Teaching Tips

Build in time for independent exploration

and creation

Name and Save each project before each session is over.

Pair with other apps resources, e.g. Kodable, Lightbot,

Code.org

Future

Android version is scheduled to be released

at the end of March, 2015.

Web version later in 2015.

Sharing or exporting projects will most likely

be in future versions.

Questions?

Project Examples

Dodge Ball Game

ScratchJr Maze Game

Magic Flower Story

Tap and Bump Hearts

Penguin Stopper

Find the Cat Game

Pick the Flowers

Gravity on the Moon